Dare County Board of Education votes to bring students back under staggered plan

[Photo courtesy North Carolina Department of Public Instruction]

The Dare County Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to allow parents to send elementary school students back to class for face-to-face instruction every day, and a hybrid model for middle and high schoolers to go back to class two days per week.

The board also voted unanimously to reopen the Dare County schools athletics program effective Oct. 5.

Under the plan, Pre-K through 5th graders would go back to in-person instruction in a phased entry plan, with Pre-K and grades 3-5 going back Oct. 26 and grades kindergarten through two added Nov. 2.

Grades 6-12 would give parents the option to send students back to class two days per week, based on alphabetical order, either Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday. Wednesday will be a virtual day for all.

Parents can still opt for remote-only instruction for all grades.

Masks will be required for all staff and students over the age of 5, students will have to answer health questions every day and any parent or non-school individuals who come into the school will have to undergo temperature checks.

The board met for more than two hours before making the decision Thursday night, hearing from Dare County Health and Human Services Director Sheila Davies and schools Superintendent John Farrelly.

This story originally appeared on OBXToday.com. Read More local stories here.