Cherokee County Schools following Cooper’s Plan B option
Business August 4, 2020
CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. – Cherokee County Schools chose to operate under N.C. Governor Roy Cooper’s Plan B scenario for the 2020-2021 school year.
Under Plan B, schools must follow social distancing and safety protocols as well as a limited number of people allowed within the building. Originally, the government only permitted 50 percent capacity, but the plan has since been modified to ensure six feet of separation.
Parents and guardians can choose between returning to in-person instruction or remote online learning.
Students who return to in-person must wear a mask except for breaks and meals. Face coverings will be provided by the state. A physician’s prescription will also be accepted if a child can’t wear a mask. Daily temperature checks and symptom questions will be conducted daily.
Students will sit one to a seat on buses with masks unless they are siblings. The limited number of seating might require buses to run late or make more trips. Parents are encouraged to pick-up and drop-off their children because of limited capacity. Bus riders must have a form attesting to their health and lack of COVID-19 symptoms.
On Monday and Tuesday, students with the last name beginning with A-L will attend school. M-Z will attend on Thursday and Friday. Wednesday is a remote learning day for everyone, and the school will be sanitized.
Students who have siblings with different last names will have their schedules adjusted so they can be in school on the same days.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are remote learning days.
Social distancing will always be maintained. Stickers will be placed on the floors, sign installed, along with social distancing procedures in place.
Intense sanitizing will take place on the campus and on buses. Students will be encouraged to regularly wash their hands and hand sanitizing stations will be prominently available. Water bottle stations will replace water fountains, and water bottles will be provided.
No visitors, including parents and guardians allowed inside the school without the express permission of administration because of an emergency or other situation deemed necessary by the administration. No large group assemblies, gatherings or congregating will be allowed.
Remote Learning Option
Students in remote only classes will be accountable for participation, attendance remotely and partake in an organized, rigorous curriculum. All assignments will count as a final grade.
Those in remote learning must commit to the option for an entire semester.
Face to face assessments will be conducted with remote students on days that other students aren’t in attendance.
Parents can complete a decision form to participate in online or in-person school before Monday, August 10. It can also be completed over the phone. Once submitted, this form will be used to reserve a student’s space in one of the options and cannot be changed until the end of the first semester in December.
After August 10, school staff will begin calling or making home visits to obtain an answer from parents and guardians.
Plans could change at any time as more information about COVID-19 becomes available, the infection rate increases, or the governor’s orders.
Watch the video about Cherokee Jumpstart to see how Cherokee County Schools might operate once students return to school.
Tragic accident claims lives of two young men, another hospitalized
BREAKING NEWS, News June 26, 2020
HIWASSEE DAM, N.C. – Tragedy struck the Hiwassee Dam community after a horrific automobile accident killed two brothers, Austin and Avery Hawkins, and put another young man in the hospital.
A memorial account was set up at United Community Bank (UCB) under the “Hawkins Brothers Memorial Fund” for people to contribute to funeral arrangements and expenses. Anyone interested in making a donation may do so at the Murphy, Blairsville, McCaysville, or Robbinsville UCB locations.
Hiwassee Damn Fire Department issued a statement:
“By now, most have heard of the terrible tragedy that struck our community this morning. The loss of the 2 brothers is unfathomable and our prayers are with their family and friends. We also are keeping the 3rd young man in our prayers as he recovers from his injuries. Special thank you to all of our members along with personnel from Ranger and Wolfcreek FD, Cherokee County EMS, Sheriffs Office and 911 dispatch, NC Highway Patrol, AMR EMS, Devine Towing and the numerous bystanders who assisted us in many ways, whether it was by direct work, providing water and rehab to personnel and even counseling on scene. Everyone worked extremely hard and, while the outcome was not what we wanted, we can be assured everything that could have been done was done. Love your family and remember all affected in your thoughts and prayers.”
Hiwassee Dam School also welcomed students and community members to come to school at 2 p.m. on June 26 for counseling or just to talk. “We will pray for the families and remember the ones we have lost and offer what comfort can be found,” the school affirmed.
FYN will update this story as details about the accident become available.