SC officials convene task force tasked with getting K-12 students back in school
Officials in South Carolina have assembled a group of K-12 educators to help figure out how to navigate the coronavirus pandemic during summer and fall semesters.
The AccelerateEd Task Force, announced Wednesday by the S.C. Department of Education, aims to create recommendations for schools on how to open at the start of fall.
“We know that virus has the potential to cause disruptions over the summer and into the next school year and want to be prepared to meet those challenges with common sense solutions that allow for continued learning while protecting the well-being of students and educators,” S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said in a statement.
Because of coronavirus, schools are closed throughout the end of the school year.
The task force will be chaired by Kathy Coleman, the director of Clemson University’s Sandhill Research and Education Center and a member of the Saluda County School Board, according to a news release. AccelerateEd will include several representatives from the S.C. Midlands including Chanda Jefferson, the Fairfield Central High School who was awarded the 2020 South Carolina Teacher of the Year award, and Patrick Kelly, a teacher at Blythewood High School and representative of the Palmetto State Teachers Association, according to the news release.
The group’s first virtual meeting will be Thursday, April 30, at 10 a.m. It will be streamed at the S.C. Department of Education website.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 4:38 PM.