Wake superintendent: Virtual Academy is at capacity, 90% of students in classrooms

Wake County Superintendent Cathy Moore says there are no immediate plans to expand the district's Virtual Academy online learning option as COVID-19 cases spike for the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.

According to Moore, due to staffing issues, Virtual Academy is closed to families. More than 90% of Wake County students have already opted to learn in person this year, she said.

Coronavirus cases have surged since the Virtual Academy opened for enrollment and then closed. When asked what the district will do if COVID-19 cases continue to spike and parents with kids in in-person learning become worried, Moore said reopening Virtual Academy hasn't been ruled out but that they are hoping safety policies in place will be enough to keep children in school.

"We know that parents are concerned," she said. "We do want them to see what the protocols look like and see what the first few days and weeks of schools are like. We have asked the staff to look at any options that may exist [for increased online learning] but right now we do remain at capacity."

Moore said, due to the highly contagious Delta variant, there are more coronavirus cases in schools than in the previous school year, but there also more kids in Wake County's schools.

It's highly important that parents only send children to school if they feel well and work to minimize spread at home on evenings and weekends.

"We want to make sure we send the message that, while masks are mandatory, we want families to also collaborate with the school so the safety precautions are taken outside of school as well," Moore said. "We cannot keep COVID-19 from coming into the building if it's in the community, but we must limit spread in the building."

Moore said the district will continue to monitor the county's coronavirus spread and make changes if needed.

"We want to make sure it is a good start for families," she said.