By Kaylaa’ White
On Thursday, August 6th, 2020, Prince George County School Board conducted a meeting to vote on the proposal for virtual and in person instructional education for the 2020-2021 school year. Along with a recommendation from the superintendent, Dr. Lisa Pennycuff, and a unanimous board vote of 5-0, it was decided that in person instruction will consist of classes from Monday through Thursday, with a day of virtual teaching on Friday.
“Students will go to school Monday through Thursday (if they chose in person). Friday is for online enrichment, CTE courses, performing arts, and remediations. The class blocks for the first semester are 1, 2, 4, and 6. For the second, they are 1, 3, 5, and 7,” Pennycuff said.
This blended model will include roughly 50% of students going to school virtually and the other half on campus.
“The students that chose in-person on the survey are allowed to return to school, with priorities to children with disabilities and health conditions,” Pennycuff said.
For students on campus, cloth face coverings that are the appropriate size for one’s face will be “highly suggested” and “strongly recommended,” and will be included on 2020-2021 school supply lists.
For the 2020-2021 school year, the choice of virtual or on-campus instruction will depend on which option was chosen on the parental survey that was sent out towards the end of July. Those who did not respond will be included in the virtual only students.
“The students that chose virtual must take online classes. If they want to come back, they can if the school has room to accommodate for them,” Pennycuff said.
Towards the end of the first semester, with the hope that there isn’t a heightened spread of COVID-19, surveys will be sent out to parents to decide if they want to switch from virtual to on-campus instruction, or vice versa. These parental requests will be regarded on a need basis and will be dependent on space availability in Prince George schools.
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