At this evening’s special School Board meeting, Superintendent Haas recommended to the Board that the division expand the ability of parents to choose in-person instruction for their child beginning Monday, March 1. Under this proposal to progress to Stage 4, Pre-K students and students in Grades K-3 would attend school four days a week, and students in Grades 4-12 would attend school two days per week. The School Board will vote on the recommendation during their business meeting next Thursday, February 11.

If the Board approves the recommendation:

• The division will devote the week of February 15 to planning and preparation for the expansion of face-to-face instruction.
• Monday and Tuesday, February 22 and 23, will be asynchronous (independent) learning days for all students.
• On Wednesday and Thursday, February 24 and 25, schools will open to all elementary school students as well as students in Grades 6 and 9 (the transitional years for middle and high school), as follows:
  • Students in Pre-K and Grades K-3 will attend both days.
  • Students in Grades 4, 5, 6 and 9 will be assigned to attend one of those days.
• On Monday, March 1, schools will open in Stage 4 for all students.

In making his recommendation, Dr. Haas said, “I know I speak for all of our students and families when I offer our deepest gratitude to all of our school division’s educators and support staff. They have carried the day through their grit and creativity to meet the learning and well-being needs of our children through mostly virtual and some hybrid instruction. I thank this world-class team for what they have contributed during the most challenging school year we have faced in our careers. You have held our community together through your valiant efforts.”

Under Stage 4, the division will offer face-to-face instruction as follows:

• All Pre-K students and students in Grades K-3 may attend school in person every week, Monday-Thursday. Friday will continue to be a virtual learning day.
• All students in Grades 4-12 may attend school in person two days a week. These students will receive virtual instruction for the remaining three days of each school week.

In Stage 4, families will continue to have the option for their child to participate in fully virtual learning, including four days per week of teacher-directed online instruction and one day per week of independent learning.

In the event the School Board approves a move to Stage 4 at their February 11 meeting, families will receive more details from their school principal about their child’s schedule. For more information on the division’s Return to School plan, including its various stages of returning, please visit the Return to School website. More information also will be provided in a news release this evening, which can be viewed in our Newsroom.

Next week’s School Board meeting, in which the Board will decide on the Superintendent’s recommendation, will be live streamed on the School Board’s Media Streams page beginning at 6:30 p.m. Community members will have two options for sharing their views regarding a possible move to Stage 4:

• Email the School Board at any time at SchoolBoard@k12albemarle.org.
• Sign up to provide public comment during next week’s School Board meeting. The sign-up form will open at 9 a.m. on Monday, February 8, and remain open until 2 p.m. on February 11.