Dare County Schools will begin year in remote learning for all grades

After a more than three-hour meeting poring over all potential options, the Dare County Board of Education voted to begin the 2020-21 school year in remote learning until Oct. 23, with the option to revisit sooner.

Much of the board’s decision was based on uncertainty with COVID-19 numbers locally; training time for staff and teachers based on state mandates for starting school and potentially major staff shortages.

“Personally I’d like to see our kids go back to school, but … it seems like the teachers are the ones that are going to be on the front line dealing with this stuff,” board member Frank Hester said. “I’m really torn, my preference is to go back to school. But it looks like one of the things we have to consider is buying some more time. When tourists depart and see what things look like …”

The board passed the remote option 5-2.

“My concern is we’re going to get stuck in fear,” said member Harvey Hess Jr., who was opposed to any all-remote learning options.

Under the remote learning option, labeled Option 4 in parent and staff surveys, remote learning will be in place for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. This concept provides time to see if local COVID-19 related data and mitigation efforts improve.

The options board members considered — and will consider again before the end of first quarter — include:

Hybrid Option 1: Option 1 was been developed because it is impossible to staff K-8 every day with a maximum of 12 students who are socially distanced in a classroom. The division is much better equipped to provide remote learning opportunities particularly for 9-12 due to the significant number of online classes already being taken.
— Virtual learning option for the first semester for anyone in K-12
— Preschool attends school every other day
— Grades K-6 attend school on-site 5 days a week (spread out among campuses if needed based on student numbers)
— Grades 7-12 remote learning (with potential options to schedule additional instructional support on-site)
— 7-12 special populations (EC,504, ESL) have the option of attending daily

Hybrid Option 2:
— Virtual learning option for the first semester for anyone in K-12
— Preschool attends every other day
— Prek-12 attends onsite in A/B cohorts on alternating days each week/Remote learning on off-site days:
Ex. Cohort A (half the alphabet) attends Monday/Tuesday and are remote Thursday/Friday with Wednesday is remote for all (deep cleanse of buildings)
Cohort B (the other half of the alphabet) attends Thursday/Friday and are remote Monday/Tuesday
Students in the same immediate family will be grouped in the same cohort as much as possible
Special populations (EC,504, ESL) have the option of attending daily

Hybrid Option 3:
— Virtual learning option for the first semester for anyone in K-12
— Preschool attends every other day
— K-12 attends onsite in A/B cohorts on alternating weeks. Remote learning on off-site weeks
Ex. Cohort A attends on-site weeks 1,3,5 and remote weeks 2,4,6
Cohort B is on-site weeks 2,4,6 and remote weeks 1,3,5
Students in the same immediate family will be grouped in the same cohort as much as possible
Special populations (EC,504, ESL) have the option of attending daily