Schools delay start date

From school reports

Kemper County School District (KCSD) has announced it would delay the start of the school year until August 17 with virtual learning.

The decision was made last week. It comes as result of the district wanting to ensure that all schools are ready to host students safely as well as provide adequate one-to-one learning instructions.

“We are very proud of our preparation,” said Hilute Hudson, superintendent of education for the district.  “Our district has never looked better as our staff has worked tirelessly this summer to get our buildings, classrooms, cafeteria, and school buses clean and ready for the start of the new school year.”

KCSD released the district’s reopening plan in early July, which focused on the safety and well-being of all students, teachers, staff, visitors and families while providing a positive and quality education.

 In that plan, the district intended to begin distance learning for all students a week earlier on August 10.

“Virtual learning is the best way for us to start school to ease the minds of everyone as well as practice our safety routines of masking up, temperature checks, washing hands, and social distancing,” said Hudson. “Also, delaying the start of school to being on August 17 gives us another round of deep cleaning throughout the district, and it allows us to verify students’ needs for the best instructional outcome on our virtual learning platform.”

All Kemper County students who do not have internet access for distance learning will have paper packets made available to them at their schools.