The Shadow
LOW MOOR — The Alleghany County School Board has unanimously approved a reopening plan.
The hybrid plan approved Monday calls for students to be in the classroom two days a week, with remote learning the other three days.
Schools will open for the 2020-21 academic year Sept. 9. All teachers must report to work by Aug. 25.
The approval of the reopening plan culminates several weeks of planning and strategizing by school officials. Schools were shut down in March under order by Gov. Ralph Northam in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Northam later said schools would be permitted to reopen in the fall. Decision making and planning was left up to school boards. Their reopening plans must be approved by the Virginia Department of Education, however.
Although the Alleghany County School Board approved a hybrid plan that blends in-person and remote learning, a 100 percent remote option will be available to parents and students who choose it.
Fifty percent of students will attend classes on Monday and Tuesday. The remaining 50 percent will be in school on Thursdays and Fridays.
Wednesdays will be a remote learning day for all students, to allow each school building to be deep cleaned.
Each school will follow social-distancing guidelines set forth by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Virginia Department of Health.
“We will continue to work on health and mitigation, because it changes every day,” said Kelly Huff, director of secondary instruction for the school division.
Huff was part of a 35-person team that began work in May to develop the plan for reopening schools. The team was comprised of administrators, guidance counselors, teachers and students.
Parents were surveyed as part of the process. Approximately 40 percent of parents responded to the survey.
One hundred percent of the respondents said they favor a hybrid approach to learning over virtual learning, said Sherman Callahan, director of elementary of instruction.
Fifty percent of parents said they will transport their children to school in personal vehicles instead of placing them on a bus.
Students who ride buses will be encouraged to wear face coverings and social distancing will be implemented. Students may be assigned seats.
Buses will be properly cleaned between each scheduled run.
The school division will submit its plan to the state by Aug. 3 for review.
In a move related to remote learning, the school board approved the purchase of 200 mobile hotspots to help provide Internet and Wi-Fi connectivity to students who are economically disadvantaged.
A recent survey indicated that approximately 200 students in 162 homes do not have sufficient Internet access.
To receive a hotspot device, a student must be eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch.
The cost of purchasing 200 Iseego Jetpack devices will be $116,048. Money the school division received from the federal CARES Act will be used to purchase the devices.
In other action, the school board:
— Approved the filing of a school security grant application with the Virginia Department of Education.
The school board may be eligible to receive $250,000, with a $62,500 (25 percent) match required.
The money would be used to equip school buses with radios that will be compatibles with the county’s new emergency communications system.
— Approved a $173,900 bid for weight room improvements at Alleghany High School.
