The Wayne County Board of Education voted to recess its regular monthly meeting Monday as Hurricane Isaias barreled toward the North Carolina coast — but not before one board member made a pitch to change the school’s reopening plan.
Len Henderson asked to make statement before the end of the meeting because he will not be in town for Wednesday’s resumption of the session.
Henderson told board members that he has been researching COVID-19 and reviewing comments from the community and county officials regarding the district’s Plan B reopening.
Teachers on the non-traditional calendar are due back Thursday, with students set to return Aug. 12.
Teachers on the traditional calendar are due back on campus on Aug. 10, with students returning Aug. 17.
Henderson, who will not have a vote in any discussions regarding the Plan B return Wednesday due to his absence, said he was particularly concerned about Labor Day weekend.
“You see a major spike in COVID infections after a major holiday, and we are coming up on a major holiday,” he said.
The board waived its normal procedures to allow Henderson to make his statement.
“I would ask that you consider moving to nine weeks of remote instruction,” he said.
Wayne County is one of very few districts across the region that are opening in August with Plan B. Duplin, Johnston, Wilson, Wake, Cumberland, Durham, Sampson and Lenoir are among those that have decided to begin the school year with remote instruction.
No comments were made regarding Henderson’s statement.
The board is set to resume its session — and to hear the latest details of the Plan B reopening plan from Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Tamara Berman-Ishee — at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
For more on Monday’s board meeting and coverage of Wednesday’s session, follow the New Old North here and on our Facebook and Instagram pages @NewOldNorth.
First smart thing he has said.
I agree with Lynn Henderson. My children are going virtual and the board should take into account of questions asked by the community. The safety of students and teachers is a must. Too many times the people on Wayne County Board of Education make decisions without any collaboration with parents/community, which a part of their mission statement. They tend to vote on issues that need to seriously addressed. The education of my children goes lacking due to unwarranted decisions made. When is this going to end? My children deserves the same quality of education that any other school in this district gets.
Finally, a board member does actual research and thinks for himself.
Thank goodness for a board member who is using DATA and considering safety of children AND staff.
You can’t sit at home forever,, that is doing more harm to families,,, did everything stop for the swine flu? This is way more political than it is portrayed to be ., everyone stay home and let the government send you a check
It’s just way too weird how the two big political parties are so far apart about how to deal with this. Somebody isn’t telling the truth. Meanwhile, why isn’t there any more discussion or coverage about where this virus came from. I’m sorry, I just don’t believe it occurred naturally and shut things down the way it has. Possibilities…
a. Pure accident, whatever the cause
b. Intentional to discredit current U.S. administration
c. Intentional to bankrupt oil and gas industry?
d. Dr. Evil is real
c. Other
@Really asking that WCPS have a plan in place prior to students and staff returning is realistic. Most people are more concerned about their safety. Thinking that everyone who is asking for a solid plan is receiving “a government check” is absurd. What about staff and students who have underlying conditions? The staff members who do are still receiving their salary. I agree that politics is playing a major part in the decision making process. I also believe that WCPS BOE is incompetent. Henderson is the first person to make a logical statement. Nevertheless, he only has one vote.
Students and staff HEALTH should be the priority at this time. We are in a pandemic and the virus is very contagious. We need to implement Plan C until the virus is better under control.