Onslow News

The Onslow County Schools superintendent said the district is ready to reopen in any format in a letter posted to the district website, while also reassuring the school community that education in a COVID-19 world would remain a top priority and in a safe environment. 

North Carolina schools are generally slated to reopen on Monday, Aug. 17, but that date depends on the governor and state officials who have to make the decision. Gov. Roy Cooper, WSOCTV 9 reported, is scheduled to provide an update about schools at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14. 

"Our staff has been hard at work cleaning our schools and developing processes to ensure a safe and healthy learning and work environment," Superintendent Barry Collins wrote in the June 26 update. "We do not know exactly how things will look when we return in August. However, we do know some things will look different."

Onslow education officials are considering options for reopening, based on state recommendations, which are outlined on the update page. The state provided districts with three plans to reopen, which are brick-and-mortar instruction with proper social distancing, hand sanitizing and handwashing, health and temperature checks and more cleaning; in-person instruction but with 50% capacity and following cleaning and handwashing rules similar in the first option; or full remote learning. 

"It is essential to get students back into their classrooms with their teachers," district officials said in a July 2 update. "As a district, we are committed to providing in-person instruction for our students in the safest environment possible. We also understand [that] not all families may be comfortable with a return to the school buildings."