SNOW HILL, Md.- Worcester County Public Schools will transition back to distance learning until Jan. 4, Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor announced Thursday.
In a letter to Worcester families, Taylor said that on Sunday, WCPS made the "very difficult" decision to go back to Stage One of the district's Responsible Return model, which meant all schools transitioned back to distance learning.
"As we have monitored the metrics around community transmission throughout this week, we are not seeing any indications of progress toward a significant decline or stabilization in these metrics," Taylor said. "We have also consulted with our local health officials regarding current projections of spikes related to the upcoming holiday seasons. In light of this information, we have made the difficult decision to remain in Stage One – with all students engaged in distance learning – until January 4."
Taylor said it is the district's hope to see community metrics level or decrease following those projected holiday spikes, and that they can begin with a restart of the Stage Two return of students on Jan. 4. He said this will mean that once again WCPS will begin phasing in students in small targeted groups in waves, much like what was done earlier this fall.
However, as the district continues to adjust its plans and enhance its safety protocols, the superintendent said the lists of students invited back for each wave may change.
"This means that if your child was originally in the first wave of students’ return on September 28, they may not necessarily be in the first wave returning on January 4," Taylor said. "Our schools are hard at work identifying students for the upcoming waves, and like before, they will be contacting families individually to invite students back to the classroom."
Taylor also said the district's transportation department is working closely with schools on some changes in this area but told parents that as their child is invited back to the classroom, bus transportation may not be available.
"I know this is a lot of information to process, and we are heartbroken at the thought of not having students in our buildings over the next several weeks, but keeping our school system community healthy and safe has to be our collective priority," Taylor said.
