Before I begin, I want us to take a moment to reflect on the way our world has changed in this past month. Literally one month ago today, on Friday, March 13, Gov. Cooper held a press conference and said that the National Center for Disease Control did NOT recommend school closures at that time, particularly in areas such as Scotland County where there had been no reported cases.
Based on those recommendations from the CDC, the State Health Department, and Governor Roy Cooper’s office, it was decided that public schools should remain open.
Literally the very next day, Gov. Cooper reversed that decision and closed all schools for two weeks.
As you know, things continued to rapidly change and schools are now closed through May 15 for student instruction, all businesses other than those that have been deemed as essential have been closed, and for the remainder of the month, the governor has mandated a ‘stay at home order’.
Many things that we once took for granted like going to work, going shopping, and visiting friends and family we’re not able to do now. For our students, the ‘normalcy’ of going to school to learn, to see friends, to have healthy and nutritious meals, and simply a safe place to be was suddenly taken away. For our teachers and staff, they left on Friday thinking that they would be back in their schools, classrooms, and offices on Monday morning. Little did they know that the hug or high-five that they gave their students that Friday afternoon may possibly be the last one for this school year.
I am particularly saddened for our seniors. While not completely off the table, sport seasons, prom, senior awards programs and fun days, baccalaureate, and even graduation exercises are in jeopardy of not happening. This certainly is not the end to their Scotland County Schools educational journey that they (nor we) had hoped for.
And so, here we are.
As a community, state and nation, we find ourselves in a position that we could not have possibly prepared for. We in public education find ourselves on the frontlines, too. I’m not taking anything away from those folks in healthcare and those emergency personnel that are fighting to find a vaccine for the virus and are fighting to get and keep us well. They have my utmost respect and gratitude. However, in this situation, it is also evident how much society depends on public education to fulfill so many of their needs.
Our cafeteria staff and bus drivers have worked tirelessly to provide meals that so many of our students depend on. Without missing a day since the pandemic started, locally, we have provided (with the help of our community partners during spring break) over 125,000 meals for our children. Our teachers didn’t miss a beat and since that very first week, have been hard at work contacting their students and preparing instructional materials for them. Although the classroom has changed, our teachers and teacher assistants continue to work diligently to ensure that learning doesn’t stop. Our custodians are in our schools and buildings and are doubling their efforts to make sure that when staff do enter the buildings, that the environment remains clean and safe.
With much of the instruction being delivered virtually, our technology department has played an essential role in making sure that our students have the tools that they need to learn. Our social workers, counselors, and mental health workers have had to work creatively to reach those students and families that are the most vulnerable to make certain that their social, mental health, and emotional needs are being met. And the exceptional leadership that our school administration and district staff have provided during this crisis confirms what I already knew – they are the best at what they do and we are fortunate to have them here in Scotland County.
And last but not least, I want to mention how proud and appreciative we are of our parents and guardians. Never has it been more critical that they play a major role in their child’s education. They have stepped up to the plate and have truly become a ‘partner in education’.
As we continue on this journey, we know we are going to make some mistakes. There’s not a class taught in college on “how to teach during a pandemic.” No administrator can look to another district to get advice, based on their experience, on how to lead during this type of world-wide event. And for our beginning and lateral entry teachers, they are just figuring out how to teach in a “normal” classroom and now have been thrust into a situation that in no way could they have planned for at the start of the school year.
However, I am not hearing complaints. Instead, I’m seeing and hearing how our staff has not only accepted the challenge but through their creativity and ingenuity, have met this circumstance head-on.
I think when we look back on this situation because this too shall pass, we’ll be proud of what we’ve done. I think as a district, community, state, and nation, we’ll be better for having gone through this. I also think that people will have a newfound respect for public education and will be reminded that our role is not only viable, but it’s crucial.
Finally, as I’ve said to our staff several times but want to publically say it here, I am so appreciative of what everyone has done and what we are going to do. We all just need to remember to stay the course and let our focus remain on doing what’s best for children.
Ron Hargrave is the superintendent of Scotland County Schools.
