Local districts should decide when to reopen SC schools, Superintendent Spearman says
When Gov. Henry McMaster called for schools to offer the choice between 5-day-a-week in person classes or distance learning, one person not standing next to him was state Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman.
In an interview with The State following McMaster’s news conference on Wednesday, Spearman said the decision on when and how to reopen schools should be made on the local level by each district and take into account how the coronavirus is spreading in each community.
“I want children back face-to-face five days a week as well. Logistically, there are districts who cannot do that and offer good social distancing and safety measures for students and staff,” Spearman said. “I could not support what is a mandate that they all offer five days a week.”
McMaster pushed for 5-day-a-week in person instruction by Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day, because he says it will produce better educational outcomes for students. Also, having students in school allows parents to go to work and jump-start the economy.
Health officials recommend that people stay six feet away from others. The coronavirus spreads through prolonged interaction between people, especially indoors.
Although children mostly don’t have adverse outcomes because of COVID-19, some develop related conditions that can be severe. Roughly 10% of the teachers in the state are older than 60, putting them in the vulnerable age group for having complications from COVID-19, said Ryan Brown, a spokesman for the S.C. Department of Education.
Spearman also responded to criticisms that virtual and distance education put in place in March was substandard.
During the news conference, state Sen. Greg Hembree, R-Horry, said school districts got an “A plus” for effort, but a “D-minus” for results in providing distance learning.
“The learning that took place from March to the close of school was emergency learning, we did the best we could,” Spearman said. “I can assure you that the virtual learning and distance learning that will be in place in the fall will be much stronger with higher expectations, (and) attendance taken of students every day. The expectation is the students will be engaged every day and we will receive good outcomes from it.”
In addition to McMaster’s announcement, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy Devos has called for schools to return to in-person instruction in the fall, a call that was met with criticism.
“The decision does not need to be made in Washington, D.C., and in South Carolina we care about every child, and the health and safety of not only every child, but staff member as well,” Spearman said.
Spearman said all districts are planning some type of face-to-face instruction for students, and even considering staggered schedules to allow proper social distancing.
“We do need to put eyes on students as much as we possibly can. I will be encouraging them to do that,” Spearman said.
South Carolina has received $216 million to pay for COVID-19 reopening expenses and ensure classroom safety. However, Spearman said school districts have two years to spend that money.
S.C. legislators also included $210 million for five extra days of in-person instruction to help students catch up after not being in school since March.
“Districts have the flexibility to bring the students back in a safe manner,” Spearman said. “Some may choose, if they feel they could manage it, to bring back students all at the same time, but most are planning to do that in a staggered attendance so all students may not go every day, but there will be students there every day.”
Spearman emphasized that all districts want to get to five days a week, to get back to normal.
“We cannot pretend that everything is normal, because it’s not,” Spearman said.
