The Cumberland County Board of Education met Tuesday morning to discuss possible virtual instruction for students this week, however, after looking over the numbers of staff and teachers who can work, they decided that school should resume as normal.

District officials considered one of three options in the meeting. Transition to virtual instruction, make a change to the calendar or move forward with in-person instruction. A survey went out to staff on Monday and Tuesday asking them if they were unable to work due to currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, being diagnosed with COVID-19, quarantine due to close contact, or needing to be home with a child who has been diagnosed or exposed to COVID-19. Out of 4,959 respondents, 406 said they would not be able to work this week. That is 8 percent. 280 of those respondents were teachers or teacher assistants.

Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly, Jr. recommended moving forward with in-person learning on Jan. 5 through Jan. 7, as planned. However, due to the increase of COVID-19 cases in the county and the state, the school district will implement new COVID protocols, including temporarily limiting visitors at school facilities, reducing capacity at athletic events to 50 percent and expanding COVID-19 testing options to students and staff.

“In light of the COVID-19 metrics in our county and understanding that many of our staff, students, and their families may have been exposed to COVID-19 over the break, we felt obligated to explore all possible options upon our return from winter break,” said Connelly said in a press release. “We also wanted to ensure we had adequate staff to move forward with in-person learning, since some staff may miss work because of COVID protocols.”

The School Board did not vote or take any action since the recommendation was to move forward with in-person learning as planned. Chairman Greg West closed the meeting shortly after the recommendation was made and no public comment was allowed.

Holly Autry, a mother of a senior at Cape Fear High School, said she was happy with the decision the school district made.

"Speaking on my daughter's behalf, she has pretty much all honors classes, and although she is a good student and could get her work done virtually, face-to-face learning and being able to raise her hand and a teacher actually being able to walk to her desk and explain something if she has a question is so much better than sending an email and waiting for lord knows how long to get a response," Autry told Up & Coming Weekly.

Autry wasn't the only one happy with the decision. Work-from-home mom Susan Brown said that if the school district went virtual, it would have been stressful for her whole family. Her 7-year-old son is autistic and in IEP classes. She says that special education students are some of the most negatively impacted by many of the COVID policies.

"In honesty, I would have attempted my son to do what they asked but I have two other children and I work from home," Brown said. "It would have been a stressful mess and he would surely lose learning time. I’d have to log him on and off twice during the school day to drop off and pick up my other kids."

Althea Thompkins, a mother of a kindergartener, said that she was hoping the school district would offer a virtual option, however, the Board of Education did not consider virtual for those who may want to opt-in for it.

"I became furious because I’m immune-compromised and 30 weeks pregnant. We as a household just got over COVID and I don’t plan to catch it again," Thompkins said. "Also, I am appalled that some parents are saying they would rather their children catch COVID than to prevent it. Just because some parents are healthy and can afford to not be so precautious does not mean others are. I am strongly leaning towards doing homeschooling or virtual for the rest of the year because some of these parents I can not trust."

Thompkins said that the new protocols the district will implement are a must along with face masks.

"People who demand continuing to live our lives like there’s not a virus still out, need to realize that there are just as many immune-compromised and vulnerable people and children in this city," Thompkins said.

Autry on the other hand said she had mixed feelings about the new protocols.

"Being a frontline healthcare worker in a Primary Care office we see it all from minor symptoms to major concerning symptoms, from Covid vaccinated to non-vaccinated," Autry said. "My honest opinion in athletic games - what is the point in limiting the amount of people allowed to watch the game or match when the athletes playing are constantly coming in contact with each other while sweating and breathing heavy, there’s just no way around it! As for the testing in school I’m definitely against. I can’t speak for everybody else but I’m not letting my daughter get tested at school."