On Thursday, members of the Unicoi County Board of Education voted unanimously to move the opening of schools from August 10 to August 17, in preparation for at least two weeks of virtual learning beginning August 24.
All students will return to buildings on a staggered basis the week of August 17 to meet their teachers and obtain devices that will enhance their learning, such as iPads for Grades K-2 and Chromebooks for Grades 3-12. More information about when specifically students should report will be available soon.
Starting the week of August 24, teachers will begin online-only instruction from their classrooms, with students engaging on their devices from home.
The following week, on September 2, Director of Schools John English will announce whether students can safely return to in-person learning within school buildings on September 8.
Teachers will still report to their buildings for in-service from August 3-6, and will spend the week of August 10-14 training and preparing for online instruction.
More information will be provided in the coming days and weeks.
Timeline At A Glance:
Aug. 3-6 — Teachers report to their buildings for in-service
Aug. 10-14 — Teachers train and prepare to deliver virtual instruction
Aug. 17-21 — Staggered meeting times for students to meet their teachers and retrieve learning devices, such as iPads (K-2) or Chromebooks (3-12).
Aug. 24 — Virtual instruction begins
Sept. 2 — Announcement from Mr. English regarding possible return to in-person learning on Sept. 8
Sept. 7 — Labor Day holiday
Sept. 8 — Potential return to in-person learning, pending announcement from Mr. English