Sumter School District delays in-person return to Feb. 1 amid COVID-19 surge

Sumter School District will not return to hybrid/blended instruction Thursday as originally planned and is pushing back that date about 10 days to Feb. 1, due to COVID-19 incidence rates in the community and staffing issues. 
A district spokeswoman distributed a letter from Superintendent Penelope Martin-Knox to parents and families of district students on Friday afternoon. 
In the letter, the superintendent said the district’s ultimate goal is for students to return to face-to-face instruction; however, with the continued increase in COVID-19 rates, she said that option isn’t in the best interest of the safety and well-being of students and staff members at this time. 
Virus exposure and positive test results for staff members require isolation and quarantining, per guidelines, and that has created staffing availability issues at some schools, said Shelly Galloway, the district’s executive director of communications and community engagement.
Martin-Knox said the decision was not anticipated or taken lightly but was made in conjunction with feedback from medical professionals, district leadership, school principals and teachers.
“Our team will continue to monitor COVID-19 data and staff availability in anticipation of a tentative return to hybrid learning Monday, Feb. 1,” she said.
Sumter began the school year fully virtual on Aug. 28 and then on Oct. 1 began phasing in grade levels to a hybrid/blended learning model of two days per week of face-to-face classroom instruction with the remainder at home and online.
After COVID-19 cases surged again locally and statewide with colder temperatures and Thanksgiving holiday travel, Sumter decided to move back to full virtual instruction, effective Dec. 14. After the holiday break, the district started back virtually on Jan. 4.