Beaufort County schools puts two-week delay on in-person summer programs, practices
A day after telling school board members that students could return to the classrooms July 6, Beaufort County Schools Superintendent Frank Rodriguez postponed the re-opening by at least two weeks, citing new information from the state that the county is classified as high risk for coronavirus.
The delay is due to a memo from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control that classifies counties as high, medium or low risk for the spread of COVID-19.
Beaufort County was classified as high-risk, along with Charleston, Colleton, Greenville, Greenwood, Horry, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Sumter and Williamsburg Counties.
The new classification system has three metrics:
- Number of new cases in the past two weeks;
- Whether new cases have increased, decreased or stayed level over two weeks;
- Percent of positives among people tested for COVID-19 in the past two weeks.
The district announced Thursday that as a result of the metrics, which Rodriguez saw for the first time Thursday morning, the scheduled K-8 summer reading camps and any sports practices would be postponed until at least July 20.
“Our No. 1 priority is protecting the health and safety of our students and employees,” he said.
“The DHEC data we received this morning on Beaufort County’s increasing COVID-19 infection rates were disturbing, to say the least. We will continue to monitor DHEC’s new weekly metrics and make the best decisions we can to keep everyone safe.”
What the plan was
Of the 763 students slated to participate in the July recovery program, 582 had signed up for in-person instruction, and 181 for virtual instruction.
The district had planned several concessions to COVID-19 for in-person instruction, in line with Accelerate Ed’s recommendations for reopening schools.
Classrooms would have a 10:1 ratio, and students and teachers would be required to wear masks (and face shields, in the case of teachers). Students would have to provide documentation for any medical conditions or doctor’s counsel to not wear a mask.
Classrooms would be arranged to maintain social distance, and will have sanitizing wipes and daily cleanings.
Buses would be limited to 50% capacity and one student or two siblings per seat. Buses would be sanitized between routes, and students would be supervised for social distancing at car pick-up lines and bus parking lots.
The summer programs would run from 7:39 a.m. to 11:39 a.m. Students would receive breakfast in classrooms and a bagged lunch to take home at the end of the day.
Parents were being asked to conduct wellness checks before sending students to school. Students would not be temperature-checked at the door. Students and staff would be asked to stay home if they are ill.
Nurses would be present, and there would be separate areas for students going to the nurse’s office for sick visits and routine visits.
The return of school would have also marked the beginning of restricted practices for student athletes.
Under “Phase I” of the South Carolina High School League’s plan, teams would be able to gather and work out in groups of 10 or less while socially distancing from each other.
Teams would not be allowed to use shared equipment, such as balls or weights, and could not use sport-specific equipment for the first two weeks of practice.
Coaches would have to wear masks, as would athletes when they are not working out.
Players would be screened for COVID symptoms and temperature checked at the start of every meeting.
“I’m not surprised by it. I think when you look at numbers across the state. When you look at percent positive rate. I think it is a no-brainer,” Hilton Head Island football coach BJ Payne said.
The delay of summer workouts puts Beaufort County teams in a crunch to get ready for the season. The first week of high school football games is scheduled for Aug. 21.
Payne doesn’t think a month will be enough time to get ready for a game.
“Where do you put the value?” Payne said. “We have a lot of kids here who live with grandparents. To me I have been about the big picture, and we have to do what is best for the kids and to try and safely play this season.”
Prep sports coordinator Lou Bezjak contributed to this report.
This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 10:14 AM.