Friday, the Montgomery County School Board voted to move the schools to Instruction Phase 3, Level 1, which for the high schools means no in-person instruction, effective this past Monday, Dec. 14.
There will be no changes in Pre-K through sixth grade schedules Students in those grades may attend four half-days per week. Students in grades PK-3 may attend two half-days per week.
The following students, however, in grades 7-12 may continue to attend school in whatever way they have been attending (in-person full-day, in-person half-day, or fully-remote):
Students with disabilities as outlined in their current IEP or 504 plan; students who receive Level 1 or 2 ELL services; students recommended by the Student Assistance Program (SAP) Team; students who received a grade of D or F on their report card (families will be contacted by the school to make these arrangements); students without access to the Internet through MCPS-provided MiFi device; and children of employees who are MCPS students.
The decisions came at a meeting requested by Superintendent Mike Miear in the wake of the increase of COVID-19 spread in Montgomery County that has impacted the staff as they are quarantined mostly due to potential exposures outside of the school building. The rise in staff absences combined with low attendance for substitute teachers has created a staffing burden in the county’s school and led the superintendent to request the meeting of the board.
While the high schools will move to remote or online synchronous instruction for all their classes, students in grades PK through 6 will remain on their current schedule. The current schedules will be maintained at least through Friday, Dec. 18.
Monday, Dec. 21, and Tuesday, Dec. 22, will be asynchronous learning days. Students will complete a Wednesday check-in form on these days to indicate if they need additional assistance.
When the schools reopen after winter break, students will go back to Phase 3, Level 1 through the end of the first semester on Thursday, Jan. 21.
All buses will run their regular route to pick up and drop off students. Meals will be available at schools for pickup.
Free meals will be available for pickup at the high schools between 10:30 and 12:30 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. To help with meal preparation, parents should email the respective cafeteria manager to let them know how many meals will be picked up.
Students will receive one breakfast and one lunch on Monday, Thursday and Friday. Students will receive two breakfasts and two lunches on Tuesdays because the cafeterias are closed on Wednesdays. To pick up meals, parents may call the respective school to arrange for a no-contact pickup.
Auburn High – bwimmer@mcps.org
Blacksburg High – slinkous@mcps.org
Christiansburg High – mweaver@mcps.org
Eastern Montgomery High – gbasham@mcps.org
As a reminder, Dec. 21 and 22 will be “learn from home” days for all students, PK-12. No students will report in-person on these days. Students and their parents/guardians will need to complete the “Wednesday Check-in” form for attendance and to receive assignments from their teachers.
