Public Radio for the Piedmont and High Country
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

'Reopening Will Be Complicated': Guilford County School Board Reviews Options

The Guilford County Board of Education held a virtual meeting on Thursday, July 9 to discuss reopening scenarios, what it will take to do that and a possible timeline. Screenshot: KERI BROWN/WFDD

The Guilford County Board of Education is trying to find the best plan to reopen school buildings in August. It's a complicated process and comes at a time when COVID-19 cases are rising in the county. As of Thursday, there were more than 3,300 cases reported in the county.

School leaders are focusing on a plan which uses a blended learning approach. Some students would attend classes on campus, while others would learn remotely or both. But all districts will have to be prepared to pivot once Governor Cooper provides more guidance.

Many questions remain: Will they have enough masks for staff and students and will schedules be staggered? There are other details including the possible removal of carpet, fabric chairs, and other equipment to meet certain safety guidelines. And will they have enough staff to monitor and screen kids throughout the day?

In the meantime, school officials are walking through buildings to assess capacity and measure classrooms for social distancing requirements. Superintendent Sharon Contreras says they're also collecting more parent feedback.

“We had high return rates in some of our wealthiest communities, but very low survey returns in the poorest communities, so they're out knocking on doors through next week,” says Contreras.

Contreras says teacher surveys are being compiled as well. The Guilford County School Board will meet again on Tuesday to continue their discussion on reopening options. The school board is expected to vote on a plan in the next couple of weeks.

For the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in North Carolina, visit our Live Updates blog here. WFDD wants to hear your stories — connect with us and let us know what you're experiencing.

Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news.

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

Support quality journalism, like the story above,
with your gift right now.

Donate