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COOPER AT IT AGAIN!

''WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 1.1 BILLION IN "COVID RELIEF" COOPER?''

Plan A of in-person learning available for K-5 students

RALEIGH, Wake County — Elementary school students can return to the classroom without limits on the number of students in the classroom, Governor Roy Cooper announced Thursday.

In his COVID-19 briefing, Cooper says public school districts can choose Plan A for students in kindergarten through fifth grade beginning Oct. 5 – students in upper grades are still required to operate under Plans B or C.

In Plan A, safety measures such as masks, social distancing and symptom screenings are still required, but schools are not required to reduce the number of children in the classroom. Schools will continue to have flexibility in their decision, and Cooper says districts should still provide remote learning for students who choose it.

"I want to be clear, Plan A may not be right at this time for many school districts and for every family," Cooper said. "Opportunities for remote learning need to be available for families who choose it. And districts will have the flexibility to select a plan based on their unique situation."

Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson says local school boards are "encouraged" to open schools safely.

“It’s great news today that we are a step closer to providing the option of in-person learning to families who want their children to return to school,” he said in a statement. “While the Governor, the State Board of Education, and I have our differences, I join with them today to encourage local school board members to take advantage of this change and open all schools safely. I thank the many parents and teachers across North Carolina who have been vocal advocates on this important issue.”

Chair of NC State Board of Education, Eric Davis, also released a statement in support of the move.

“For the past 6 months, superintendents, principals, teachers and local BOE have worked diligently to care for the safety of our students and staff while educating our children. While we are anxious to return all students, we know that teachers, principals, and students need a gradual transition over the next 3 months," Davis said. "I ask our parents to remain patient, knowing that we are moving as quickly as is safely possible. And I ask our teachers to continue to assist our students by supporting this deliberate, thoughtful transition."

Cooper says this Plan A option was available because most residents have "doubled down" safety and prevention measures, helping stabilize numbers. NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen says the state has seen key metrics decrease:

Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days is declining,

Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days is declining,

Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days is declining,

Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days is declining.

“Our trends show that we are on the right track," she explained. "It’s up to all of us to protect our progress. Our individual actions like those 3 Ws will help keep our school doors open."

Also, Cohen says North Carolina is increasing its capacity to respond to COVID-19:

Laboratory testing – access to testing has expended, no-cost testing events are occurring and testing turnaround times have improved,

Tracing Capability – contact tracers are being hired and a new exposure notification app will launch soon,

Personal protective equipment – supplies are stable.

Cohen adds that as schools have opened, science shows that younger children are less likely to become infected, have symptoms, experience severe disease or spread the virus.

Source

WCTI-12

https://wcti12.com/news/local/plan-a-of-in-person-learning-available-for-k-5-students