Schools Will Start Virtual, Phase In Groups: BCPS Superintendent

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — After Gov. Larry Hogan along with the state schools superintendent and deputy health secretary advocated for the reopening of public schools for in-person learning, the leader of Baltimore County Public Schools says the district is still planning to reopen in a virtual way but will also pick up the pace on in-person learning that was planned to be phased in.

"At this time, we are still moving forward with a virtual reopening, beginning September 8, but we will immediately begin to look at our plan to incorporate already created hybrid models that include a phased-in plan for small groups of students to return to our buildings," Superintendent Darryl Williams said in a statement Thursday night.

While the governor and State Superintendent Karen Salmon authorized Maryland schools to reopen for in-person instruction, "We must still ensure we can do so safely," Williams said.

See Also: Maryland Schools May Begin Safely Reopening, Governor Says

"From the start of the pandemic, and as we began planning for the reopening of schools, we indicated we would work with Baltimore County health officials to ensure we are following the guidance provided by them and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," Williams said.

Stating that "safety and health of our students and staff have always been our top priorities," the superintendent said officials would continue evaluating a "small group phased-in approach," adding groups of students "until all have returned to school."

The state's push toward reopening schools came as a surprise to administrators.

"We too were watching, and we learned in real time the new metric regarding the opening of schools for face to face instruction," Community Superintendent Christina Byers said during a virtual "community conversation" Thursday evening hosted by Baltimore County Public Schools.

"Local superintendents and local boards did not receive any advance notice about the details of today's announcement," Byers said of the governor's 4 p.m. news conference. "Because we, like local superintendents, just learned of this information, our conversation this evening will not address transitioning to face-to-face learning."

Said Byers: "We will as a school system begin to process and communicate with you around the press conference that happened this afternoon," she said.

Byers said: "We will be opening virtually."

School starts Sept. 8 for public school students in Baltimore County.

See Also: Maryland Schools May Begin Safely Reopening: Governor Hogan