School Will Start Virtually This Fall For HCPSS: Superintendent

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Even though State Schools Superintendent Karen Salmon announced Thursday afternoon that school systems in Maryland now are "strongly encouraged" to move toward some in-person learning, Howard County Public School System officials informed parents that students still will start the school year Sept. 8 virtually. Salmon joined Gov. Larry Hogan and Maryland Acting Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Jinlene Chan in announcing the plan for reopening along with a financial incentive for schools to do so.

HCPSS Superintendent Michael Martirano said the district started receiving questions from the community following the news conference. He clarified the school district's stance in a statement.

"The Howard County Board of Education voted to start virtually for the first semester and implement in-person supports for small groups of students with plans to re-evaluate Oct. 22 for the second semester. As we have done since the start of the pandemic, the board and I will continue to take all input by the Maryland State Department of Education into consideration when making decisions. We will review this new information and guidance as soon as the details are provided to superintendents," Martirano said.

The superintendent confirmed that school still will start Sept. 8 and the announcement doesn't affect "any of the preparations that have already been communicated to families."

During the press conference, Hogan said parents communicate to him daily that they want their children's school districts to reopen.

"There is broad and overwhelming agreement that finding a way to begin safely returning children to classrooms must be a top priority.There is no substitute for in-person instruction," Hogan said.

Metrics the state will recommend using as criteria for reopening include:

• Test positivity should be below 5 percent in a 7-day period.
• There should be 5 cases or fewer per 100,000 people.

Jurisdictions with higher case rates should be able to put in a hybrid model with some in-person instruction, she said.

School administrators in Baltimore County and Prince George's County said they planned to keep classes online through January 2021. Anne Arundel County Public Schools officials said they also will start the school year online.

See also:

Maryland Schools May Begin Safely Reopening: Governor Hogan