Berkeley Leader

Berkeley County Middle College High School issued the following announcement on September 9.

In consultation with SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) and the South Carolina Department of Education, Berkeley County School District leadership announced today that two schools in the District will temporarily convert to a distance learning model for one week due to staffing concerns. Beginning Monday, September 13, students at Canebay Middle and Whitesville Elementary will learn from home and return to the in-person school setting on Monday, September 20.

The temporary conversion to distance learning is due to staffing concerns and not student infection rate concerns. As a result, unlike previous temporary conversions to distance, athletic and extracurricular activities will proceed as normal.

“The decision to convert Cane Bay Middle and Whitesville Elementary to distance learning is based on operational concerns,” said Deon Jackson, BCSD Superintendent. “Staffing shortages have greatly necessitated this decision as school staffs continue to be impacted by COVID-19 isolations and quarantine protocols, and the substitute pool is limited when relied upon by 47 schools. We understand the burden this places on our students, staff and families as our shared goal is to provide quality  instruction to our students in our buildings; however, we had to consider how the limited availability of staff impacts safety on campus and instruction. We look forward to the return of these students on Monday, September 20.” 

Schools will work with staff and families to ensure that each student has received their Chromebook. Information concerning access to assignments and livestream instruction schedules will be provided to students and/or parents by principals and teachers.

BCSD will continue to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to students at these two schools during this temporary conversion to a distance learning platform. Meals will be distributed Monday through Friday of next week by drive-through pick up service.

Cane Bay Middle and Whitesville Elementary students can pick-up breakfast and lunch (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.) from Cane Bay Middle School and Whitesville Elementary School.

Students will not be permitted to enter the buildings or eat on-site. Child Nutrition will be using the “roster system” so the names of the students will need to be provided by the person(s) picking up the meals.

“We need the support and cooperation of our families and communities to ensure that these students return to school healthy and that our remaining schools stay open,” Jackson continued. “Our schools mirror their communities, so we ask that our families and communities follow SC DHEC guidelines, maintain physical distancing in group settings, practice good hygiene, limit unnecessary interactions and gatherings, and wear a mask when physical distancing cannot be achieved or is not practical.” 

Cane Bay Middle and Whitesville Elementary students will return to campuses from distance learning on September 20.

Berkeley Middle, Cross High and St. Stephen Middle students will return to campuses from distance learning on September 21. All other BCSD schools will continue to operate in-person following their normal schedules. 

Original source can be found here.