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Local School Officials Wait, Express Confusion Over Reopening Guidance

Public school classrooms will look a little different for students this fall, as districts put in place COVID-19 safety measures. KERI BROWN/WFDD

Education officials are trying to figure out what the next school year is going to look like. Some say they're getting mixed messages from the state and federal levels about the reopening guidance.

Federal officials are urging school districts across the country to reopen their buildings this fall.  Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said Tuesday schools must be “fullyoperational”even amid the pandemic and anything less fails students and taxpayers.

DeVos and others have voiced concerns about learning gaps, as well as the social and emotional impact on kids if schools remain closed.

But local education leaders are cautious, especially in areas where COVID-19 cases are rising. They say they will need more financial support and additional resources to safely reopen in August.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education Chair Malishai “Shai” Woodbury says districts are doing what they can under the circumstances.

“I'm confused. You know, sometimes in pandemics, I know that some of us are psychologically, a lot of us are a little hyped right now, but I want to be well informed before we make a final vote on a decision,” says Woodbury. “I just thought the national dialogue was a little different than what's going on on the ground.”

 Governor Roy Cooper delayed an announcement last week on his guidance. He's expected to issue his plan for reopening schools in the coming days.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention recently released health guidelines for the reentry process.

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.

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