Dronebarger: UC Schools Seeking State Guidance On Remote Waivers

White County Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said school leaders across the region want more specific state guidelines on remote learning waivers for COVID.

“We are working as a group working through our superintendents organization at the state to really try and find some answers,” Dronebarger said. “We just need to know. We don’t want to apply for waivers if we know they are going to get denied. We’re seeking some guidance from the state. What are the metrics? What are you looking for? What are you going to justify for a closure?”

The State Department of Education began accepting virtual learning requests Monday for specific schools and grade levels. Dronebarger said a hard number on COVID infections has not been shared for when remote days would be approved.

“People talk about 10, 15, 20 percent,” Dronebarger said. “Certainly when you get into those numbers as your overall population, it is something that you have to consider, but there is no hard set number or percentage. It just gets to the point we’re just not being effective with our education.”

Overton County Schools applied for remote learning Monday but was declined. According to Director of Schools Donnie Holman, the district had too many students learning in-person at hot spot schools.