By Jerry Bellune

JerryBellune@yahoo.com

Lexington County schools are expected to reopen 5 days a week after Labor Day.

Gov. Henry McMaster today urged all 79 school districts to:

1. Reopen classes Monday, Sept. 8, with all teachers present each week day.

2, Let parents decide if their children return or continue virutal learning at home.

He said this is necessary to help many parents return to work.

"Virtual education is not as good for most children than face to face with an excellent qualified teacher which we have in abundance,” he said,.

McMaster said his reasoning was based on:

1.Declines in abuse and neglect cases, often reported by teachers.

2. Dangerous children's isolation while stranded at home.

3. Inability for many children to gain a good education virtually.

Many rural area children have little or no access to the internet.

Lou Kennedy and Ted Pitts of Lexington are working with federal and state officials to correct this.

"Educating our children is our most important job,": McMaster said. "They are our future."

Superintendent Molly Spearman was not with the governor today but has said decisions about reopening must be made locally.

School Boards Association President Chuck Saylors said such decisions are best left to local school boards.

Patrick Kelly said the Palmetto State Teachers Association opposes McMaster’s push for all districts to operate in-person instruction, 5 days a week without regard for the status of the corona virus.

"We applaud the governor’s call for districts to move back their scheduled start date until after Labor Day. We believe this will give our state more time to slow the spread of the corona.

"however, we believe that if health conditions do not improve, it would be irresponsible and dangerous to require a return to full in-person instruction."

Mary Beth Hill said Lexington 1 Superintendent Greg Little will talk to employees about this at 3 pm.

His message will be livestreamed on the district's YouTube channel.

Dawn Kujawa said Lexington 2 in the Cayce-West Columbia area will announce reopening plans Friday.

The district will let families decide between their Virtual Academy and face-to-face instruction.

"We are already taking applications for the Virtual Academy." she said 

MacKenzie Taylor of Lexington 3 in Batesburg-Leesville said parents are being asked if they prefer classroom instruction or virtual learning,

The Chronicle has asked the other county districts for their plans based on the governor's announcement today.