School reopening delayed

Published 8:51 am Wednesday, October 21, 2020

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Due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in the county in just a two-week period, the Charlotte County School Board voted unanimously Tuesday, Oct. 13 to delay all students’ return for in-person instruction.

Students are now set to return to school in a hybrid in-person manner Nov. 2.

Robbie Mason

Originally, the school board had set Monday, Oct. 19 as the start date for all students.

On Monday, Oct. 5 a selected group of grades returned for in-person instruction because COVID-19 cases had declined.

According to CCPS Superintendent Robbie Mason, the groups of students that returned on Oct. 5 (Pre-K through second grade, sixth grade, ninth grade, students with disabilities and English language learners) will continue to attend as they have been for the past week.

“The groups currently attending are very small and have acclimated to our health mitigation practices; however, after consulting with the health district, it is not recommended that we bring new groups of students back in person until our COVID-19 numbers improve,” Mason said.

From Monday, Oct. 5 to Monday, Oct. 12, The Virginia Department of Health reported a 42-case increase in a one-week period. Before last week the county was only seeing one to two new cases per week.

Charlotte County’s current rate of new positive cases is about six to seven new cases per day. With enforced social distancing and social isolation (stay at home recommendations), this outbreak can be over in two to three weeks.”