RRGSD middle and high school students will be returning to partial face to face instruction on January 19. The RRGSD Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday night to allow students to return to the classroom in a Plan B option (allowed by the state) starting January 19, 2021.
Chaloner Middle School students will be divided into two cohort groups and will alternate weeks. With Group A coming one week and Group B coming the second week. When students are not in face to face instruction, they will learn virtually.
About a third of our students have opted to learn virtually. The remaining students will be divided into cohorts. We currently have 228 in Cohort A and 226 in Cohort B at Chaloner Middle School. Our goal is to keep siblings in the same cohort as best we can. Those cohort numbers could decrease for in-person learning at any time due to families opting to keep their children “virtual only”.
“Families will still have the option of keeping their children completely virtual. We will have teachers specifically assigned to teach those students who opt to learn virtually,” said Dr. Dain Butler, Superintendent.
Roanoke Rapids High School will continue to deliver core instruction virtually using live daily sessions with their teachers. Students will also have the opportunity to attend in-person sessions on campus for remediation, enrichment, and clubs from 2:00-3:30 daily through the school’s “Jacket Time Scheduler”. Safe entrance protocols will be conducted from 1:15-2:00 on campus and prior to any student getting on a bus. Bus transportation will be provided in the afternoons for students who typically have access in accordance with our Board guidelines.
“We know this virus and its impact on our daily lives has been stressful. We appreciate the patience of our middle and high school families during these past few months. I believe the plan approved by the Board Tuesday night is safe and manageable under our current state mandates and COVID protocols. It gives all of our upper grades some face to face time with teachers and much needed social interaction with peers.
Our hope is that in the coming months as news of a vaccine or other treatments become available, we can return to a more normal school schedule.” Butler added.
In other action, the Board approved to draw down its $200,000 lottery proceeds from the state to pay the annual debt service payment for Manning Elementary School. The Board also approved a one-time $350 bonus for all employees who did not receive one in October as part of the state funded COVID-19 bonus program.
The Board also recognized Roanoke Rapids High School's CTE staff for being one of the top in the state for credentials earned.