WNC districts prepare for virtual learning, meal service as schools close

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8:30 p.m. March 15 update:

Buncombe County Schools sent this message to parents:

"First, parents and guardians may pick up any needed items from our schools beginning Monday, March 16.  Please come Monday between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. And on Tuesday, during normal school hours. Please call the school if you need an alternate time to pick up your child’s school items, including devices, chargers, or take-home kits (take-home kits are for grades K-3 only).

We will send a separate announcement later when we officially launch BCS Virtual Days. Until then, parents are free to work with their children on the enrichment activities of your choice. 

*Please note that Buncombe County Early and Middle College are on their own calendar. These students will receive separate instructions. 

Regarding our breakfast and lunch services, If your children (ages 2-18) would like to participate in our meal service, the program begins March 16. The locations and times are as follows:

Breakfast is 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. & Lunch is 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

At Oakley, Johnston, Emma, West Buncombe, Woodfin, Hominy Valley, Pisgah, Estes and Weaverville elementaries; Owen High School, Black Mountain Primary, North Windy Ridge Intermediate.

Thanks to our community partners, we will also provide you with extra food boxes for the adults and elderly who live in your household. 

Finally, regarding child care, we are going to pass along information concerning child care opportunities across our district as it becomes finalized.

In closing, our general guidance from health officials to our students is please avoid congregating in large groups, stay home unless it is necessary to go out and maintain the same healthy hygiene standards emphasized by our staff and school nurses: wash your hands frequently, cover your cough with your sleeve, stay home if you feel ill or have a fever, and avoid touching your face, especially with unwashed hands"

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Gov. Roy Cooper has proactively closed all North Carolina K-12 schools, starting March 16, to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

"This is the decision that no one wanted to see happen," state Superintendent Mark Johnson said. "But it is the right decision."

The state and school districts began preparing for this eventuality in the last week. Cooper announced the decision, made by executive order on March 14.

More:Where is the coronavirus? Interactive maps track cases across North Carolina and beyond

"School closings was an incredibly hard and complex decision," said Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen at an afternoon media briefing. "It's too often those with the least resources bear the greatest burdens of this decision."

A state group has been tasked to develop solutions for child care, meal service and "other equity issues" during this time, Cooper said. Children of "front-line health care workers," who may have to go to work, have also been of special concern.

State Board of Education Chairman Eric Davis said the board is working to find ways to continue getting meals to families who are eligible.

Davis added the state working to ensure high school students who are dual-enrolled in courses at state universities and community colleges can still participate in those courses.

Related:As coronavirus brings remote lessons to K-12, food, child care, internet barriers arise

WNC school districts released plans shortly after the state's announcements. At least one county, Haywood, was skeptical of the need to close immediately.

"We are concerned that we may be closing prematurely since there are no known cases in Haywood County," Superintendent Bill Nolte said. "We are fearful that our local cases will peak later this spring causing extended time out of school for our students. With that said, we respect the governor’s decision and trust he, public health officials, and other state-level decision makers are making the best possible decision in a very difficult situation."

Asheville City Schools' plan

Asheville City Schools quickly announced adjustments to its calendar: March 16 would be an optional teacher workday to allow staff time to prepare for distance learning that would start March 17.

Elementary students will be using at-home learning packets and older students will complete assignments via district-provided devices. The district is planning to return to school on March 31, though acknowledged that may change.

ACS will also open food distribution sites on March 17. More information is forthcoming on that effort, the ACS website stated. 

Buncombe County Schools' plan

Buncombe County Schools noted the "closure affects all programming, including before- and after-school activities, all athletic and extracurricular practices, and competitions, and weekend events." A date for reopening will be set after consultation with state and local leaders, the district noted on its website.

March 16 will be a regular day for employees, including classroom assistants and school nutrition employees. 

The school district said its Virtual Days will "soon be in effect." 

"Our teachers have worked diligently to prepare students to remain connected to our curriculum and their classmates virtually, despite our campuses being closed," the BCS website states, then directs families and students to check their email for more details about lessons.

More on coronavirus:

► Video: Public officials urge precautions over coronavirus

► Coronavirus: Event cancellations and postponements in and around Asheville, WNC

Details were to be released on March 15 for children who did not yet bring home a device, BCS spokeswoman Stacia Harris said via email.

Harris added the district is working with community partners on making alternate arrangements for parents who use school-based child care centers.

The district also has planned for drive-thru meal pickup for breakfast and lunch at the following schools: Oakley, Johnston, Emma, West Buncombe, Hominy Valley, Pisgah, Weaverville and Estes elementary schools; Owen High School; Black Mountain Primary and North Windy Ridge Intermediate.

"We will use yellow buses to deliver food to high population areas of the district that are eligible," the district said. More details were to be released on March 15.

Other districts, schools

Haywood County Schools will meet with principals on March 16, when full-time employees should also report to work. "This is an evolving situation.  We will continue to release information for students, staff, and parents as appropriate," Nolte said.

Henderson County Schools will have optional teacher workdays on March 16-17 and will start its Learn From Home model on March 18. Families will receive details on this the day prior. "Although this is an unprecedented situation for school systems across our state, HCPS has been preparing for this event. The Learn From Home model will involve virtual and/or take-home coursework, depending on students’ grade level and internet connectivity," the district states on its website.

Carolina Day School: Spring break will run March 16-29. All campus events have been canceled or postponed until after that date. "We continue to monitor and assess the COVID-19 (new coronavirus) situation. Our school is ready to implement remote teaching and learning, which will likely begin March 30. We will let parents know of that decision as soon as we can," the school's Facebook page reported.

Franklin School of Innovation: The school will be open March 16 for students to pickup any necessary items, and pantry items will be available for families in need, the school's Facebook page said.

Jackson County Schools will release more details on instruction at home and food service later, according to its Facebook page.

Macon County Schools are working out plans for the school closure but will have buildings open on March 16 for students to retrieve items that may have been left in classrooms.

Summit Charter School: The Cashiers school is extending a previously announced closure through March 30. Instructors on March 16 will prep virtual learning plans and families will be contacted that afternoon. "We recognize that access to the Internet may be limited in some cases, and teachers will prepare copies of learning packets that will be available for pickup" from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 17, Head of School Kurt Pusch shared in an email.

Catholic Diocese of Charlotte schools: Diocesan schools will suspend classes and all schools will move to remote learning, according to a release from the diocese. "School administrators have been working with parents and students to prepare for this exigency." March 16 will be a teacher workday. "Families will also be provided the opportunity to pick up any resources needed to continue distance learning from home."

Cherokee County Schools: The district is working on plans to provide meals for students, with buses and meal pickup, Superintendent Jeana Conley posted on Facebook. "The details are not completely worked out yet but please know our school nutrition and transportation departments are working to make this happen as soon as possible. More details coming soon."