Rockbridge County Public Schools to return to remote learning after Thanksgiving at recommendation of VDH

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — Like several other southwest Virginia school districts, Rockbridge County Public Schools is going back to virtual learning after Thanksgiving due to the current coronavirus status in the area.

Rockbridge County school officials announced on Monday, Nov. 23, that they are following a recommendation from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to close schools through the holidays and are pivoting to entirely remote learning in order to protect students, faculty, and staff. amid the pandemic.

While Tuesday, Nov. 24 , will still be a scheduled Hybrid A day, Rockbridge County Public Schools says all PreK through 12th grade students will take part in a 100 percent virtual learning model five days a week starting Monday, Nov. 30.

The school district says the current goal is to resume in-person learning on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, but the official return will continue to be evaluated based on incoming information from the VDH, the CDC, and the Virginia Department of Education.

However, once students do return to school, PreK through first graders will return to in-person instruction Monday through Thursday while second through 12th graders will participate in a hybrid AA/BB model Monday through Thursday, according to Rockbridge County Public Schools.

“We certainly understand that physically closing schools beginning Monday, November 30th, imposes many unintended consequences for our families,” Division Superintendent Phillip Thompson said in a statement on Monday. “We apologize in advance for how this decision may infringe upon your family. Given the Landscape of COVID cases that are being reported in the local area, we believe this is the best decision for everyone.”

This statement from Rockbridge County Public Schools — which you can read by clicking here — was released the same day that Radford City Schools and Lexington City Schools announced their plans to go virtual due to coronavirus concerns.