No action taken on the LCPS Board plan to reopen public schools

The Lenoir County School Board meeting started with letters from the public who expressed their concern over the motion to reopen public school at the board’s July 27th meeting. Most of the parents and family members with ties to students in the Lenoir County Public School system asked the board to reconsider the previously voted upon plan.

Board Member Merwyn Smith asked to speak on the subject to the school reopening plan. “Over the past few years, we’ve done a lot of positive things for LCPS. Where were the emails then?”

Smith responded to some questions raised in emails he received by explaining that his family was also impacted by the board’s decision. Smith brought up the struggles other schools have had when they opened in person. His concern was also for the teachers and staff who could be in a high-risk category. He said that he was not opposed to amending the motion in four weeks’ time at the next meeting.

Chairman Keith King asked, “Are you now stating that you would like to have an action item for the September board meeting, to revisit the motion and the vote taken on July 22nd?”

Smith responded with, “No, I didn’t state that as an action. I said it was at the pleasure of the board.”

King asked that if they could at least amend the motion to allow K-12 to return to in-person learning during the second nine weeks.

Smith responded by saying, “It’s not an action item on the agenda tonight.”

Board Member W.D. Anderson broke down the previous motion to allow for a staggered entry based on the successful reentry of kindergarten through second grade.

“The rationale for pre-K through second was simply that they are the ones that are least effectively taught through virtual instruction,” said Anderson. “The plan was also to allow the administration to set up to receive those first two, three grades and special needs kids and see if we have a structure in place and phase it in. With a successful launch of those in that group, the possibility is there to allow subsequent groups, step by step to reenter even in the second nine weeks.”

The chairman reiterated his confusion over students in third through twelfth grade. It was a similar concern expressed by parents in the letters and on social media platforms.

“I’m still not understanding why K-12 kids aren’t included in the second nine weeks,” said King who also questioned where W.D. Anderson got the metrics used for the motion.

Associate Superintendent Frances Herring shared the steps the school has taken to prepare the students and staff for virtual learning. Herring experienced technical difficulties on two occasions as she shared her screen. Smith had moments of audio difficulties, and near the end of the meeting, he was dropped from the meeting. When he came back, he attributed the problem to his internet.

King wasn’t the only board member who offered an opinion that differed from the motion passed in the previous meeting.

“I’m the only other board member, besides Merwyn Smith, who has children in the LCPS system. I think the decision that was made and voted on was not in the best interest of all the students of Lenoir County Public Schools,” said board member Richard Bogan.

As it was not on the agenda, no action was taken on the motion passed in the July 27th meeting concerning Lenoir County Public Schools' plan to reopen.