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I hope everyone is doing well and having a fantastic summer under these crazy circumstances and conditions every one of us are facing on a daily basis. I want to reach out to you to let everyone in the community know that we as a school division are planning to reopen all of our schools in August.  Our Administrative Team and our Task Force Team have been working hard developing plans and procedures for the upcoming year that fit into the guidelines provided to us by The Governor’s Office, the CDC, and the Virginia Department of Health.

We have developed four phases/scenarios that we recognize that must be in place for the safest and most practical method for us to operate during the course of the year through this pandemic crisis.  These scenarios match the Governor’s Forward Virginia Phases and will help navigate variations as guidance and resources evolve.  The four phases are explained at this link https://sites.google.com/k12lcps.org/lcps-back-to-school-plan/home.

Also in any of these phases, distance learning at home is an option.   During the course of the year, we may have to quickly shift to a different scenario due to the pandemic, and LCPS wants to be ready to serve our students.

At this time, Lunenburg County Public Schools will be opening under Phase 3 on August 24 for students.  This is a change from our previously adopted calendar. Teachers will officially start back August 10.  This allows more time for teachers to prepare for the upcoming year.

Pre-K thru fifth-grade students will be attending in-person four days a week Monday through Thursday and will have distance learning one day a week on Friday.

Grades six  through 12 will attend in person two days a week and distance learning three days per week. This model will allow us to maintain appropriate social distancing in school and on the bus. Guidance is ever-changing and as guidance allows, we will add more in-person learning.

There is much to be done in the coming weeks to prepare for our students to return to school. You will hear and read more as you go through this online document on how we will handle cleaning and health screenings, measures we will take in social distancing, our process of allowing visitors at school during the pandemic and many other “normal” starting school requirements and procedures. Please continue to work with your children on proper hand washing and wearing cloth face coverings as well as maintain social distancing.

One thing we will emphasize continually is the need to stay home when there are any symptoms of illness because we cannot take a chance of accidentally passing anything on to someone else.  We are also asking that parents help with transportation as much as possible.

Thank you for your patience thus far and thank you for your participation in our surveys. Your opinions do matter and were considered as the board discussed reopening of schools. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s building administration or the school board office.

Charles M. Berkley Jr. is the division superintendent for Lunenburg County Public Schools. He can be reached at charles.berkley@k12lcps.org.