By Taylor Boyd
The Patrick County School System is planning for students to return to school five days a week for the 2021-2022 school year.
Classes are scheduled to begin Aug. 10, Schools Superintendent Dean Gilbert said at the May 13 meeting.
“At this time, we do not know what mitigation strategies will need to be implemented but we will communicate these once the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), VDH (Virginia Department of Health), and VDOE (Virginia Department of Education) decide how school systems will have to operate,” Gilbert said.
Because the health department is now vaccinating 16- to 18-year-old students, the school system sent a message to parents to inquire about who might want to receive the vaccine. Gilbert said there was no interest.
“Some areas are starting to vaccinate 12–15-year-old students. Once our local health department gets to that point, we will probably ask for interest with the use of the school messenger system,” he said.
In other matters, the Board:
*Presented the Virginia School Board Association (VSBA) 2021 Business Honor Roll certificate to Anna Lester and Blair Clark of Clark Gas and Oil and Lowes Foods.
*Approved the policy updates, as amended.
*Approved the textbook adoption for the science curriculum.
*Approved giving Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Andrea Cassell authorization of signature in Gilbert’s absence.
*Approved the sale of surplus technology.
*Approved a shared leave policy, as presented.
*Approve certificated recommendations as corrected and presented.
*Approved support staff recommendations as presented.
*Approved the personnel report, as amended.