Wake County Schools

Wake superintendent wants to see elementary students in the classroom daily by mid-November

Superintendent Cathy Moore recommended bringing PreK-5 and K-12 special education programs for a three-week rotation starting on Oct. 26. Grades 6-12 would remain online during that time.

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WRAL News
RALEIGH, N.C. — On Wednesday afternoon, Wake County Board of Education members discussed the latest plan to get students back in the classroom.

Superintendent Cathy Moore recommended bringing PreK-5 and K-12 special education programs for a three-week rotation starting on Oct. 26. Grades 6-12 would remain online during that time.

Then on Nov. 9, grades 6-12 would be included in a three-week rotation.

Finally, on Nov. 16, PreK-5 and K-12 special education programs would return to daily in-person instruction.

The final plan will be brought to the board for a final vote on Sep. 29.

Wake County students have been in online learning since Aug. 17, the first day of school. Families who opted for all-virtual learning can continue learning from home.

On Sep. 17, Gov. Roy Cooper announced that school districts can reopen their elementary schools in early October during an update on the coronavirus outbreak in North Carolina and the state's response to it.

The school system's Virtual Academy would continue to operate through the 2020-2021 school year, even if some students do return for in-person classes. As of July, about half of the district's students were signed up for Virtual Academy.

In a Sept. 15 meeting, Moore said a large majority of schools have more than half of staff on campus. Principals have been providing feedback to superintendents about how many staffers have been coming back into the building.

All required and recommended personal protective equipment has also been received and distributed to schools. Supplies includes face coverings, hand sanitizer, touchless thermometers and other PPE.

The district would use the transportation plan that was approved for Plan B, which would be a mix of online and in-person classes. Moore said bus drivers have already been practicing the routes approved for transportation under Plan B.

As teachers return back to in-person classes, Moore said the district would need to examine how child supervision for teachers would have to change.

On Aug. 14, a spokesperson with the school district said students would be returning to school "no sooner than after the first quarter." The first quarter will end on Oct. 22. The second quarter begins on Oct. 26.

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