03/28/2024
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The Bladen County Schools announced the local Board of Education special called session yesterday afternoon. Bladen County Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor gave an update on COVID-19 and the planning needed before starting the new school year. 

As Taylor stated in the last June board meeting, there are three plans needed for the 2020-2021 school year. Schools should have in place specific plans with social distancing safety guidelines. There needs to be a minimal social distancing plan, a moderate social distancing plan, and a remote learning plan in place by the middle of July.

At yesterday’s board meeting, Taylor stated that Bladen County Schools would be requesting staff members and community members to take a survey regarding the 20-21 school year and safety guidelines. He also explained committees will be working on plans July 2 through July 15 and the final plans will be announced by July 22, 2020. 

Dr. Taylor did explained school officials are waiting for the North Carolina Governor to address the issues the schools are facing on July 1, 2020.

NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), held a meeting today, June 30 while live streaming on YouTube. The NCDPI board also announced the needs for the three social distancing plans. The NCDPI board explained that they are waiting on guidance to be announced by NC Governor and by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) on July 1 as well. 

Lighting Our Way Forward: North Carolina’s Guidebook for Reopening Public Schools in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis was released on June 11, 2020, with detailed information on how education systems may reopen. However, both the local and state education officials announced they are waiting to hear from the NC Governor and the NCDHHS tomorrow, July 1, before moving forward with the planning stages.

Update information: Update information: The Office of NC Governor, Roy Cooper, made an announcement on Tuesday evening. The 3 p.m. press conference on the COVID-19 scheduled for July 1 will not include an announcement on how statewide K-12 public schools will open this coming school year.

BladenOnline will publish a full report about the Bladen County Board of Education held yesterday shortly. 

Bladen County Schools will observe the July 4th holiday on Monday, July 6. All school operations, including the meal delivery by bus program, will be closed. Operations will resume on Tuesday, July 7.

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