Mooresville Schools Make Reopening Decision For K-5 Students

MOORESVILLE, NC — Elementary students in grades K-5 in Mooresville Graded Schools will have an option to return to class instruction with minimal social distancing five days a week starting with the second quarter of the school year, which begins Oct. 19, the school board announced Thursday.

The unanimous decision was made during a special board meeting Sept. 24, and comes one week after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced that schools around the state will soon be allowed the option to switch to "Plan A" instruction, which reduces social distancing requirements in classrooms. The plan allows more students back into classrooms at one time while retaining a list of safety protocols, such as temperature checks and mandatory mask use inside school buildings. The new plan, however, will not apply to students in grades 6-12. Those older students must still receive instruction through a hybrid in-person plan or by full-remote instruction.

“We are excited to welcome our K - 5 students back in a few weeks and look forward to the day when we can welcome all students back," MGSD Superintendent Stephen Mauney said in a statement. "We are working hard to have strong protocols in place to ensure safety and will be stressing the importance of following protocols to fidelity. We will be relying on our parents to help us keep all students safe by reinforcing at home the importance of masking, handwashing, and keeping a safe distance when possible."

SEE ALSO: Cooper Loosens COVID-19 Restrictions For NC Elementary Schools

Here's how the new plan will work, according to MGSD:

• There will be a two week phase-in period beginning Oct. 19 with all students back in the building beginning Nov. 2.
• Grades 6-12 will remain in a modified Plan C attending online virtual synchronous classes four days a week with some students receiving in-person support on WIN (What I Need) Wednesday.
• Some after school extracurricular activities for grades 6-12 will be offered Monday through Friday as allowed by state guidelines.

The school district is also working to expand virtual options who choose to remain remote, it said.