BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — Burke County Public Schools will temporarily move to remote learning under Plan C effective Jan 4, 2021. The remote learning will last through Jan. 25.
The decision, which was made at the board of education meeting Monday, comes just hours after district officials announced a Morganton school would move to remote learning.
North Liberty School, a Pre-K through grade 12 school in Morganton, is moving to remote learning after a number of COVID-19 cases were tied to the school, according to the school district.
The district was made aware of the 'numerous' COVID-19 cases on Monday. In addition to multiple classrooms needing to be quarantined, the COVID-19 cases have led to a staffing shortage within the school.
"The health and safety of students and staff is Burke County Public Schools’ main concern right now," school district officials said, in part, in a statement. "The school is working closely with the Burke County Health Department for guidance and to identify anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19."
North Liberty School is expected to switch to remote learning effective immediately due to the known COVID-19 cases.
As far as the other schools within the district, remote learning begins on Jan. 4, 2021. However, Burke County Public Schools are currently on an alternating schedule, in which students are only in-person learning for two days a week.
Following this week, students will be on winter break. When classes resume, all Burke County Public Schools will be under remote learning until Jan. 25.
The Child Nutrition Department is expected to still provide meals for students in that time and asks North Liberty families hoping to receive meals during remote learning to contact the Child Nutrition Department at 828-439-4318.
Teachers are expected to communicate with students and families with specific information on what to expect during the stretch of remote learning.
"The decision to move to Plan C is not taken lightly," the school district statement said. "The main reasons to move out of a building and to remote learning are for decontamination and contact tracing purposes."
