Gov. McMaster: “School districts should consider selecting the date of Sept. 8, Tuesday 2020 to reopen schools”

Gov. Henry McMaster is recommending schools in South Carolina do not reopen until after Labor Day to give additional time for COVID-19 cases to decrease , but he is adamant that districts need to give parents the option to send their children back to the classroom. “We must do it safely, must do it carefully, but we must do it,” McMaster went on to say that he in person instruction is better than virtual learning during a Wednesday press conference, that was followed closely by Oconee public school officials…

The governor wants school districts to offer five-day-a-week, face-to-face instruction, as well give families the option for their children to take distance learning. But the Governor is advocating for a later start date – after Labor Day – . Dr. Michael Thorsland, Superintendent of the School Disctrict of Oconee County said that has given school administrators something to think about…

In a separate setting, the South Carolina High School League took up the issue of whether to play fall sports on time or on a delay. Steve Hanvey, associate superintendent, followed part of the High School League meeting and reports that the league’s thinking is to push back football schedules to September 1, and make that night the date for the season openers…

McMaster said he would not issue an executive order on reopening schools and would leave it up to the districts to decide, and that he has instructed Education Superintendent Molly Spearman not to approve any district plan that doesn’t include the option of in-person learning. McMaster said the South Carolina Department of Education was given $216 million through the CARES Act, money that districts can use for reopening expenses related to COVID-19.

Spearman released the following statement Wednesday about the return to school:

“Every South Carolina parent must be afforded the option to choose virtual learning or a face to face model for their child this school year. The pandemic has shown the vital importance of our public education system and the broad range of services beyond teaching it provides for our students every day. Our goal must be a return to five day a week in person instruction as safely and as soon as possible.

We cannot, however turn a blind eye to the health and safety of our students and staff when the spread of the virus in some of our communities is among the highest in the world. School leaders, in consultation with public health experts, are best positioned to determine how in-person operations should be carried out to fit the needs of their local communities. I remain committed to supporting them in this endeavor and will only approve those plans that offer high quality options and keep safety as their top priority.”