NC Board of Education Meets To Hash Out How To Reopen Schools

NORTH CAROLINA — The North Carolina State Board of Education met Thursday morning to discuss how schools could reopen in the state in the upcoming school year. The meeting comes days after state public health officials unveiled new guidance for schools outlining possible scenarios for reopening in the fall.

Under the new interim guidance released Monday by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, K-12 public schools are preparing for three possible scenarios: resuming with minimum social distancing, resuming with moderate social distancing or resuming with remote learning only.

SEE ALSO: New COVID-19 Guidance Outlines How NC Schools Could Reopen

NCDHHS, the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction will announce by July 1 which scenario should be implemented for reopening in August.

Under the guidance, public schools will be required to promote social distancing, such as by placing marks on flooring of reception areas, restrooms and locker rooms; discontinue self-serve food items in school cafeterias and limit nonessential visitors.

Other requirements include:

• Conducting health screenings and temperature screenings of anyone entering the school building
• Reinforcing handwashing and use of hand sanitizer
• frequent cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces
• Limiting the sharing of personal items and supplies, such as pens and pencils
• Keeping student's items in individual cubbies
• Avoid the use

The guidance also includes a list of numerous recommendations for schools, teachers and students, such as:

• Wearing cloth masks
• separating student desks and seating by 6 feet
• designating hallways as one-way
• discontinuing large group activities, such as field trips or assemblies
• Avoid the use of soft items that cannot easily be cleaned or disinfected, such as stuffed animals or clay
• Provide cups to minimize the use of water fountains

Audio streams of the State Board of Education's June 11 meeting may be found here.

The full StrongSchoolsNC: Public Health Toolkit guidance may be found here.

RELATED:

• Testing, Tracing Surge For Mecklenburg As COVID-19 Cases Rise
• COVID-19 Spread Prompts Mask Wearing Campaign In Davidson