NHCS releases family guide, school opening survey

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Students across the Cape Fear are getting closer to returning to some type of education this fall. On Monday, New Hanover County Schools laid out what that will look like in its back to school guide.

The 12-page guide lays out the different options for in-person and remote learning this fall.

If your child heads back to school, they will be required to wear a mask at all times. The district will provide masks if students do not have them.

Some parents, like Arwyn Smith, have concerns about enforcing restrictions. Smith is also a former New Hanover County educator.

“It’s hard enough for adults to put them on,” Smith said. “And then what about the parents that don’t believe in the masks, are their kids going to wear masks too?”

In addition to masks, families are being asked to take their child’s temperature before they leave for school and sign a document stating it is below 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Bus riders must turn in that document to their driver or be screened before getting on the bus.

Once on the bus it will be one student per seat with exceptions for siblings. Upon arriving at school, bus riders will be asked the symptom screening questions and have their temperature taken before entering the building.

Class sizes will be smaller with students off two out of every three weeks. All students will eat lunch in the classroom.

Students are no longer allowed to drink directly from the water fountain, and are encouraged to bring their own bottles.

Students who come down with COVID-19 symptoms during the school day will be isolated until a parent or guardian can pick them up. Smith also has concerns about this, and is choosing to keep her kids doing remote learning only.

“By the time they’re showing symptoms, they’ve got it and they’ve already spread it to who knows how many people,” Smith said. “And it’s not just other kids, you’ve got school bus drivers and you’ve got teachers and administration.”

Read the full family guide here.

A survey was also sent out to gauge family needs heading into the school year.

Take the school opening survey here.