NHC School Board voted to return middle and high schoolers to full-time instruction
By WECT Staff | March 16, 2021 at 7:29 PM EDT – Updated March 16 at 11:54 PM
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – The New Hanover County School Board voted 5-2 to allow in-person instruction five days a week for grades 6-12 starting April 12th at an meeting Tuesday.
Judy Justice and Stephanie Walker cast the dissenting votes.
All students can continue to choose full-time remote learning, an AA/BB schedule, or return to daily in-person classes.
“This is going to put a lot of chaos into an already crazy and chaotic year and I wish the board would have asked teachers before making these decisions,” said Kaleigh Pare a 6th Grade teacher with NHCS.
Superintendent Dr. Charles Foust supported the move to ‘Plan A’ five days a week and so did most families. Board members heard about a survey that showed around 60% of families said they wanted in-person, full-time learning. 40% wanted either part-time for fully remote learning.
Pare says she thinks having students in the classroom five days a week is too much, too soon. She said they were ready for students to come back to school in Plan A, but they wanted a remote Wednesday. She also added they wanted families to have the option to be in school four days a week or fully remote.
Vice Chairman Nelson Beaulieu said sending kids back to school full time is what’s best.
“Our families, our students — they really need this. I believe this is what’s in their best interest and as much as I love our staff, they just have to come first this time,” said Beaulieu.
Families will be contacted to verify their attendance preference.
New Hanover County elementary schools transitioned to Plan A March 8.
Copyright 2021 WECT. All rights reserved.
