>>14309603

and public officials don't understand why enrollment is falling???

60K students left North Carolina public schools in 2020: What's driving the drop?

Around 68,000 fewer students were enrolled in traditional public schools during the 2019-2020 school year, according to the latest average daily membership data from the North Carolina Department of Public Education.

The same data showed students attending charter schools across the state increased; adding around 7,000 more students between the 2019-20 to the 2020-21 school years. Similarly, North Carolina's virtual and cyber academy saw a slight increase in students.

Homeschooling also soared in popularity this past year, with a 20% increase in enrollment, according to data analyzed from the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education.

…

If these 60,000 students stay out of the state's public school system forever, districts will take a financial hit. In North Carolina, enrollment numbers translate into state funding, so fewer students mean fewer dollars.

This past year, North Carolina legislators decided to not penalize districts for enrollment drops this past year but many worry what the impacts will be moving forward.

"If we ultimately don't get the funding that's anticipated based on the projections that we have. Then, it could end up meaning that positions and other aspects that need to be cut," said Dr. Mary Ann Wolf, the president and executive director of Public School Forum of North Carolina.

Wolf said lawmakers are still working on a state budget and haven't decided how enrollment will factor in this year.

more…

https://abc11.com/north-carolina-public-school-enrollment-nc-department-of-education-children-covid-cases-homeschooling/10941157/

>>14309982

meanwhile:

"As of Tuesday, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Durham, Cumberland, Hoke, Lee, Nash, Orange, and Wilson counties are requiring masks this year. Clinton City, Harnett and Johnston counties have made masks optional."

Wake County School Board votes unanimously to mandate masks for Pre-K through grade 12

https://abc11.com/wake-county-schools-wcpss-mask-mandate-covid-19/10927043/

>>14310006

yep

'Durham' in the news

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) – Durham City and County officials announced Saturday that a State of Emergency will go into effect at 5 p.m. Monday.

The declaration comes in response to the rising cases of COVID-19 largely resulting from the Delta variant, authorities said. It applies to the county and to the City of Durham.

"It is unfortunate we are in this situation, but the Delta variant is extremely dangerous," Durham Mayor Steve Schewel said. "Our local cases have grown exponentially over the last weeks and instituting a mask mandate is once again necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19 and protect yourself and our vulnerable neighbors."

The State of Emergency calls for face coverings to be worn indoors, even among those who are fully vaccinated.

Durham residents are also encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

…

Durham County leaders implemented this State of Emergency because the positive rate of infection countywide doubled from 2.3 to 4.6 percent. in the past month.

"I am signing this new State of Emergency for Durham residents because it is important that we leaders do all we can to ensure the health and safety of residents and visitors," said Durham County Board of Commissioners Chair Brenda Howerton. "Experiencing the impact of the rapidly moving Delta variant reminds us that we must continue to be vigilant in our efforts by following the 3 Ws – Wear, Wash and Wait."

The challenge will be enforcing this measure

"All we can do is ask. We're not at the stage where we can make people wear masks," Howerton said. "We are adamant about taking care of the people here in Durham. We'll see what Raleigh and the other counties do."

more…

Durham County enacts state of emergency over COVID cases

https://abc11.com/durham-state-of-emergency-county-mask-requirement-in-delta-variant-coronavirus/10937484/

>>14310075

they make shit up as they go. news updates throughout the day reference various organizations, like article below

intro includes a link to NC DHHS (https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/):

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) – North Carolina, like many other states across the country, is seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

6 p.m.

We ask Duke's Dr. Lisa Pickett: What do we know about transmission of the Delta variant outside?

…

3:45 p.m.

As COVID-19 infections surge again in the U.S., health officials are warning of a concerning uptick in pediatric cases and hospitalizations across the country, just as many children head back to the classroom.

After declining in the early summer, child COVID-19 cases have steadily increased again in recent weeks. In a newly released weekly report, which compiles state-by-state data on COVID-19 cases among children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Children's Hospital Association (CHA) found that nearly 94,000 new child COVID-19 cases were reported last week, a continued "substantial" increase.

Since the onset of the pandemic, just under 4.3 million children have tested positive for COVID-19, with children representing 15.0% of all reported COVID-19 cases, in the last week.

In a similar trend, pediatric COVID-19 related hospital admissions in the U.S. have seen their steepest and most significant increase, since the onset of the pandemic.

more…

Number of new daily COVID-19 cases in North Carolina surges to 6,892 over the weekend

https://abc11.com/covid-nc-vaccine-mask-mandate-durham-masks/10940047/