ROCK HILL, S.C. — An emergency school board meeting was underway in Rock Hill Thursday evening.
"Districts are scrambling," said Mychal Frost, the Director of Marketing and Communications for Rock Hill school district.
The scramble comes on the heels of a last-minute conference call Thursday between the state superintendent of schools and almost every school district leader in South Carolina.
"For us in Lancaster County, putting children first we’re gonna do everything we can to keep children safe," said Lancaster County schools superintendent Dr. Jonathan Phipps.
But even the best-laid plans often go awry. Just two days before every school was supposed to submit its back to school plan, Governor Henry McMaster held an 11th-hour address Wednesday, telling schools he wants them to go back to the drawing board.
"Yesterday’s announcement was very frustrating and unfortunate that it stared in the face and disrespected data that has been published by state agencies to give guidance to us," Frost said.
McMaster wants parents to have just two choices, either full in-person instruction 5 days a week or fully on-line. He does not want hybrid plans that keep kids and educators out of the building some days.
I think the Governor's office, with the school districts, there’s a huge disconnect," Phipps said.
Lancaster County used guidelines issued by a state task force to craft a plan with a/b schedule days, or remote learning for those who want it.
And they’re sticking to it.
"It’s becoming a big political divide, I certainly don’t want to be in the middle of that. I just want to take care of my kids."
On Thursday evening, the board unanimously voted to stick to the original plan they approved on Monday despite Governor McMaster's recommendation. They also voted to move the school start date back to Sept. 8th which means the new school year will continue into mid-June of next year.
Barring any executive orders, the state superintendent will have the final say on which plans are greenlit.
"I don’t believe that directive needs to come from Washington D.C," Molly Spearman, the state superintendent of schools said. "I don’t even think it needs to come from Columbia.
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