Wicomico Co. Public Schools’ to move to four days of in-person instruction

Wicomico County Public Schools
WICOMICO CO., Md. — Students in Wicomico County Public Schools will soon return to classrooms four days a week.
No later than Monday, March 29th, all current hybrid students, and any virtual students who were on a school’s waiting list for hybrid instruction, will start having in-person instruction Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesdays will remain an asynchronous learning day for all students for now.
WCPS Superintendent Dr. Donna Hanlin says this announcement comes following the CDC’s new guidance for schools that allows for physical distancing of 3 feet between students rather than the previous recommendation of 6 feet. She says, while there are still some details to be sorted out, we’re pleased that this new guidance gives our schools the flexibility to have more students in classrooms starting almost immediately.
Hanlin adds in part quote, “We believe we can now safely and consistently serve students in our schools with these CDC guidelines and with mask wearing, careful observance of physical distancing by students and staff, hand washing and sanitizing, ventilation, and regular cleaning and disinfecting in schools.”
But with this influx of students, the superintendent warns that having more students in school each day means they will need to increase the number of students on school buses. She adds that the level of physical distancing  enforced on buses, may no longer be possible. 
The school district says parents and guardians of virtual learning students, looking to have virtual students transition to hybrid in-person instruction should contact the school principal to make that request. The school will then review and respond to these requests on a student-by-student basis. Students may also remain all virtual for the remainder of this school year.
Dr. Hanlin says her ultimate goal is to move to daily in-person instruction by mid-April for those who wish to have it. She says, “my plan is to report to the Board of Education at its April 13th meeting on the expansion of in-person instruction and our ability to stay within CDC guidelines. I hope on that date to be able to make a recommendation to increase in-person instruction to five days a week.”
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