Cumberland County approves a plan that lets kids do remote learning if they choose
Cumberland County Schools approved a "Virtual Academy" for the coming school year that would allow any family to opt for remote learning.
With resources provided from the county, parents can choose to keep their children home next year.
The plan was approved by the county school system, but it still has to be signed off by the State Department of Public Instruction before it can be implemented.
The state is requiring all school systems to come up with virtual education plans during the coronavirus pandemic.
Cumberland County has helped by providing computers to children in need, and passing out Internet hot-spots to help with connectivity issues.
This decision comes after some parents expressed concerns about returning their children to the classroom during the coronavirus pandemic. Coronavirus cases in North Carolina continue to rise. There is no vaccine and no proven treatment for the disease.
Jane Fields, assistant superintendent for secondary education in Cumberland County, presented the plan to the board on Tuesday. She said that this virtual academy would help give students access to technology they need to do school at home.
"In the coming days, we hope to be able to share more information regarding the timeline, the application process and other pertinent details about this innovative learning opportunity," Fields said.
But the county needs the state to be able to sign off on it. Cumberland County is not taking any applications from students for the virtual academy until the state approves them.
All North Carolina schools have until July 15 to submit plans for approval.
Lisa Luten, communications director with Wake County Public Schools, said the district hasn't made a decision about remote learning yet.
Wake County opened an online forum last week for parents interested in a virtual schooling option, Luten said. The forum is an open ended conversation where parents can say what they are looking for as school re-opens.
Durham Public Schools are also still deciding.
"Our task force is reviewing DHHS’s guidance and developing the required three plans for the next school year: minimal social distancing, moderate social distancing, and remote learning only," said William Sudderth, spokesman for Durham Public Schools. "Which strategy we will ultimately adopt depends on state determinations of how well contained COVID-19 is based on July 1 metrics."
Sudderth said Durham is building a "more robust" online learning platform and want every student to have access to a Chromebook.
The idea of keeping schools closed in the fall because of safety concerns for children might be "a bit of a reach," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
What's not yet clear is whether children get infected as frequently as adults, and how often they pass the infection on to others. Ultimately, he said, the decision to reopen schools needs to be predicated on the level of infection in each community.
All Cumberland County students – and all students across the state – are required to have at least five days of remote learning in the coming school year, a plan outlined by the state Department of Public Instruction.
Cumberland County schools also announced on Wednesday that athletics practices and workouts would be allowed to resume July 6.
