Aiken County Public Schools will move to five-day instruction at all instructional levels beginning Monday, March 1, 2021.
“We are in the third quarter of the school year and now more than ever our students need face-to-face instruction five days a week,” stated Aiken County Superintendent King Laurence. “We have a plan in place to address any rise in staff and student cases on a school-by-school basis so that isolated increases in positive cases and quarantines will not affect the entire school district.”
This change in instructional model DOES NOT affect students who are currently enrolled in the District's all-virtual instructional model AIKEN iNNOVATE.
Superintendent Laurence met with Aiken County stakeholders in recent weeks and consulted with many educational leaders from across South Carolina while collecting data from a wide range of sources in making the decision to return to five-day instruction.
“Having spoken with many members of our community and considered the data, the time is right to return to five-day instruction,” commented Superintendent Laurence. “Over 30 school districts in South Carolina have returned to face-to-face instruction five days a week, and we have the precautions in place to do the same thing here in Aiken County.”
Moving to five-day instruction March 1 will place added importance on school and community cooperation. Students and staff members who exhibit symptoms must remain at home, and parents are encouraged to monitor their children for symptoms prior to each school day.
“This needs to be a team effort from across our organization and the community,” stated Superintendent Laurence. “Anyone who feels ill or has Covid-like symptoms should always stay home and not come to school. Parents and school personnel alike should daily reinforce behaviors like mask wearing, hand washing, and maintaining distance whenever possible. We need to continue to work together to remain safe while also giving our students the instruction they need to succeed.”
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LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2021 PR DISTRICT MOVING TO FIVE-DAY INSTRUCTION MARCH 1