Jasper Co. schools were set on fully virtual classes. That had to change for SC approval
Jasper County Schools’ reopening plan received approval Friday from S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman.
The county’s plan is among 66 approved by Spearman because they met her four criteria for reopening: It provides a virtual option, an in-person option, a timeframe for determining when the district will be able to transition to full-time, face-to-face instruction, and outlines how it will provide all student services and meet state and federal requirements.
Spearman approved the plans of neighboring Beaufort County on Thursday.
“We are committed to ensuring that the safety needs of every school is being met in preparation for reopening,” Spearman said in a news release this week. “Every citizen can help in this effort by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, washing their hands regularly, and staying at home when sick.”
The S.C. Department of Education indicated Jasper County’s approval is contingent on the district providing in-person instruction no later than Sept. 14.
Even though S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster said all schools should have in-person options, Jasper County remained steadfast in its’ all-virtual reopening starting Aug. 17.
But the district said it will offer in-person classes once the case numbers in the county decrease. District public information officer Travis Washington said Thursday that the school board will determine when the county’s children are at lower risk.
Spearman’s approval sets an obvious deadline for that determination.
The approval process comes as parents are split about sending their students back to school in much of the state. Active cases of the coronavirus have hit record highs in South Carolina in recent weeks, and health experts expect the cooler months to make fighting the virus more difficult.
Read about Beaufort County’s reopening plan here.
Read about Jasper County’s reopening plan here.
