The school board met virtually and held a discussion about the likelihood of moving into a model including in-person learning, a plan the CHCCS system has worked toward since October. The group, however, agreed worsening spread of the coronavirus indicates it is not yet safe to bring back students and educators. CHCCS decided to revisit this discussion toward the end of January to review crucial metrics and potentially approve a transition for a hybrid learning model to begin in March.
Dr. Jim Causby, in his last school board meeting as interim superintendent before Dr. Nyah Hamlett takes over, said the district has implemented the Phase 1 of student return as approved in October. Adapted curriculum students, as well as those in the SPIRE program and people taking ACT/SAT tests, have returned with no issues.
Causby pointed, however, to rising COVID-19 metrics that complicate a larger return, including hospitalizations and the percentage of new positive cases across North Carolina. Orange County currently ranks third lowest in new cases per 100,000 residents. Percentage of positive tests in the state, though, now sits at close to 13%, while Orange County’s has risen to nearly 5%.
Causby also shared rises of cases within CHCCS staff, with the majority of the 63 total confirmed positive cases and close contacts coming within the last three months.
A recent survey of more than 1,100 CHCCS staff found 82% of staff did not feel comfortable returning to either teach or work in-person this upcoming spring semester. These results are worse than those of a community educator survey in October when 73% responded with their preference of continuing to teach remotely.
These responses led board member Ashton Powell to say no matter when the the system moves back to in-person learning, earning back the trust of the CHCCS educators and staff who do not feel comfortable will be key.
“If we’re not able to feel the pulse of what they’re going through,” said Powell, “that tells me they don’t feel that they’re in the mix and know what we’re doing. That’s a little troubling to me. Part of the coalition-building we have to do is bringing them back into the fold.”
Additionally, despite the recent arrival of the initial COVID-19 vaccine in North Carolina, the interim superintendent said it is not likely to make an effect within the schools community for many months. Causby said the ABC Science Collective, which has partnered with the district to provide guidance during this period, predicts the vaccine will not affect whether things will be back to normal in Fall 2021. He said the most likely scenario considering vaccine effectiveness and prevention of spread would be students fully returning to in-person instruction under a “new normal” coming around the 2022-23 academic year.
Causby and other district staff said whenever the board chooses to advance to Plan B, there will be a five-week gap between initial approval and the date when students return. As explained Thursday, the delay would be to allow families at least three weeks to make various accommodations. Two additional weeks would be needed to finalize many details for having students on-site, like meal plans, bus routes, the distribution of PPE for students and much more.
With the board’s plan to potentially have Plan B start in March, district staff said there’s a chance high schoolers could stay in Plan C for the rest of the academic year. Many school board members said they hope to avoid this, however, saying an adjustment to spring break and revisiting COVID-19 benchmarks in January could open opportunities for high school students to get a portion of in-person instruction before the spring ends.
The CHCCS Board of Education said it plans to discuss a potential transition to a Plan B model of learning during its January 21 meeting.
Photo via Town of Chapel Hill.
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Dr. Causby, so very happy to have had his leadership this year. He and the school Board have been so very sensible in each difficult decision. Hope the faculty can get vaccinated quickly in the next rounds so they can safely return to normal operations with our kids.
I am very disappointed by this decision. I understand that there are risks, but the board has shown no desire to get our kids any in person school this year. Our kids, especially the lower income kids who can’t supplement the very inadequate remote education with tutors and other programs, are suffering and falling behind. Where are the metrics on student progress and outcomes and how those compare vs income? We are creating a gap for this generation of students that I fear will never be closed due to this lack of leadership by the board. Where are the metrics on wealthier families leaving the public school system for private schools, or just moving to other districts that have figured out how to make it work? It is happening. Private schools are open, and opened with the mentality of “we need to at least try, and if we get at least a week or two of in person learning it is worth it.” They have managed to stay open with basically zero transmission. Other school districts in areas with higher rates of COVID are open. They are making it work. They may close for a week or two every once and a while, but then they go back. Our kids are suffering and there are countless excuses and justifications for not opening. Leaders should say “ok there are challenges – how might we solve them?” Our board is supposed to fight to ensure our kids get the best education possible. They are not. We’ve had almost a year to do things like cutting red tape to enable teacher assistants to teach, hiring more substitutes, modifying the classrooms or build outdoor learning areas, but we have done nothing. Now we have vaccines being administered, but still no plan to return. They seemed overwhelmed by the challenges and they are not doing their job. They need to be honest with themselves and our community that virtual learning is not working, it is not “going well” despite the super-human efforts of out teachers. And there are no metrics to support any statement that it is going well. The board has taken their eye off the ball —> our kids education. I have lost confidence in the board, and I think they need to step up immediately and change their focus or be replaced.
Kent, your post is spot on. They continue to have the same discussions around the challenges with no desire to identify any solutions. No metrics, no dashboard… other districts are finding ways to serve their public school students. Some of the plans around the state and beyond are amazing and could have even been copied by our Board. I have been monitoring the % and we have just finally gotten over 3% despite what the article says. The Board continues to worry about everything other than providing a solid education to their kids. And I seemed to hear a mention of already thinking of hybrid in the fall? They have totally disregarded their mission of serving the public school children in their district.