News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
White County School students will work virtually Monday and Tuesday, November 23rd and 24th.
That extends the break from in school learning to nine days around Thanksgiving. Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the school system’s increase in COVID exposures was the reason.
“We have seen a spike across the nation, and we have certainly seen it here in White County,” Dronebarger said. “Just in recent weeks, we have seen our numbers really jump up in positivity rates and quarantining. So, I think it is just an opportunity to take a rational logical approach. We have an opportunity to take several days here and get away from each other.”
The White County Board of Education approved the changes during its Thursday meeting. With about 500 students in quarantine, Dronebarger said the nine days out of class will let students return healthy for the last three weeks of the semester.
“The idea will not be to overload them on those days,” Dronebarger said. “Students need a little break from all that stress as well, but we want to make sure that we are paying homage to the fact we are requesting this as a learning day from the state.”
The school system will supply students with the appropriate supplies for the two virtual days. Dronebarger said teachers will share assignments sometime next week.
“Teachers will have an opportunity to provide those learning opportunities next week and have them already stored in Google Classroom,” Dronebarger said. “Students will have all week to work on those. They do not necessarily have to do it Monday and Tuesday.”
Dronebarger said the two virtual days were approved by the state education department and will not count as snow days. Dronebarger said employees would be paid for the extra preparation required the prior week.
