Reopening Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Families called to have passwords reset, gain access to SeeSaw and get help finding links, for example. Staff also dealt with hardware issues. The most common one was that the computer’s audio wasn’t working.

About 338 more students than last year opted to homeschool this year but officials don’t have data on where the other students went.

Volunteers and interested community members can find opportunities on the site of where to give their time or funds.

Families in both districts reported some initial challenges in joining virtual classes but said things went fairly smoothly after that, though an internet outage in Charlottesville affected some students and staff for about an hour.

117 teachers joined the Albemarle County school division this academic year. In Charlottesville, 49 classroom teachers joined the division over the summer. 

A community advisory committee made up of public health officials, medical professionals, teachers, parents and others will review local data about COVID-19, state and federal guidance and other factors to make a recommendation on the second and following quarters of school.

Both school divisions spent the summer shoring up their online education programs in anticipation of a virtual return to school. Now, with some questions still unanswered, students, teachers, parents and staff prepare to meet the unprecedented new year. 

Albemarle schools last week unveiled their planned schedule for virtual learning for elementary students, but parents have ongoing questions and concerns. 

During a discussion Thursday, several board members were concerned about how the division would ensure consistent and equitable practices across the schools, especially at the elementary level, as well as the lack of firm answers about virtual learning expectation from attendance to what will be required of families.

Both local school divisions' free meals programs will run out at the end of August, after a federal program that paid for them was discontinued. 

Job loss, sickness, employment as an essential worker, and children impacted emotionally or behaviorally by the pandemic are factors that will be taken into consideration during the application process.

To improve virtual learning, both school systems are eyeing more live online classes, regular weekly schedules and concrete activities when the screen is off along with clear expectations for families.

Local school divisions are basing their plans for English-Language learners this fall on the lessons they gleaned from the spring shutdown. 

Superintendent Rosa Atkins said there will be unanticipated needs as families start virtual learning, but the division's budget is limited and no additional federal funding is expected.

Students and staff will be required to wear masks regardless of physical distancing, an apparent change from what division officials discussed last month. 

With students in masks and desks six feet apart, Louisa County Public Schools on Thursday became the first school division in the area to bring students back into the school buildings — exactly six months after Gov. Ralph Northam ordered schools to close amid a surging pandemic.

All classes at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center will continue online this school year, following the county school sys…

“Video will eat up data in a heartbeat. ... We realized we really need unlimited data plans, and for some households, we may need more than one hot spot.”

“I think in order for this to be successful, none of us feel as if our classroom teachers in our schools will be able to do it alone. We will need our partners and we will need to work together.”

As of Thursday, the plan included virtual learning for all students, though the School Board will hear a more specific presentation about how the division will support students in special education, English learners and preschoolers during next week’s meeting.

English learners, students without adequate internet access and those with disabilities who have intensive needs have the option to go to school, where they’ll work on online classes with teachers who volunteer to work in the buildings.

Charlottesville Schools superintendent announced the move in a Wednesday email to parents and staff. 

Charlottesville and Albemarle County School Boards on Thursday will vote on reopening plans, as questions persist from parents and staff. 

Parents said they want to see clear guidelines and standards for virtual learning to ensure consistency across the division, as well as in-person classes for working families.

In response to a letter from concerned employees and fears that UVa students returning to Grounds will become "super-spreaders," Albemarle County School Superintendent Matt Haas on Tuesday said he will draft an online-only reopening option for the School Board to consider. 

Albemarle schools superintendent says he would not ask staff, teachers to adhere to a reopening plan he would not be comfortable with himself. 

Teachers criticized Albemarle schools' reopening plan, saying they had not been consulted closely enough. 

The Charlottesville School Board wants more information on virtual learning, public health before finalizing reopening plan.