The Henderson Public Education School Board held a meeting on Monday, August 2, where it decided not to require the use of masks for the 2021-2022 school year. They also decided to offer the option of virtual courses for students.
The Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS) school system announced plans to make the use of face masks an option for students, staff, and visitors to school interiors. The use of masks will be mandatory on buses, vans, and other modes of school transportation, according to orders from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Virtual school
The School Board approved the recommendation of district leaders to provide virtual classroom options depending on the grade level of the students. HCPS announced that it will begin implementing changes to the remote learning option to increase productivity and participation.
Kindergarten through 8th grade students will be taught by teachers hired specifically for the virtual classroom. Students in grades 9-12 who demonstrated success in virtual learning last year will be able to access their courses online through the platforms offered (NCVPS, HCVPS, and Edmentum). High school students who choose to take virtual classes will be contacted by their school counselor to choose their classes.
This year HCPS will not offer a hybrid school model for students, instead parents will have to choose to enroll their children in virtual school full time for the semester. Students and families of students interested in enrolling in the virtual school must sign up before Monday, August 9 at 5 pm at enroll.HCPSNC.org.
Instruction for virtual classes will be available no later than August 23.
Health protocols, reports on COVID-19
Beginning August 3, the HCPS school system will begin updating its district dashboard announcing positive COVID-19 cases and infection outbreaks affecting its students.
The school system and public health officials will operate under the same notification protocols as last year. The Department of Public Health is responsible for contacting people who are considered close contacts to a positive case and informing them of the quarantine protocols. HCPS school principals will be in charge of informing all families when there is a positive COVID-19 test at their school. The district also published a guide called “What to Expect When There is a COVID-19 Case in a School.” You can see the guide at English Y español.
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