The Cumberland County Commission School and County Education Committee met late yesterday at Martin Elementary to tour recently completed renovations.

The auditorium has new seats to replace the original ones. The carpet was removed and the floor was painted. The sound system will be updated soon.

Student bathrooms are redone with new floors, sinks, urinals and toilets.

All doors leading outside are replaced as well as windows.

Once the brief tour was complete, Director of Schools Dr. Ina Maxwell addressed the committee.

She gave members an update on COVID-19 in the school system. The active case numbers continue to fall and more students who were on virtual learning are returning to the classroom. December 2020 was the worst month for the school system for the coronavirus with 861 active cases in the county. As of yesterday (March 9, 2021) the active count was 66. The school system received federal funding to help with the pandemic. It was used to purchase Chromebooks for students, personal protective equipment for students and staff, touchless thermometers and cleaning products.

Dr. Maxwell also provided a brief update on a 4 week summer school to be held after this school year concludes. It will be 4 days a week and teachers will be recruited for it. The school system is looking at around 1,500 students total for the special session. Each day will include two hours each of math and English and one hour each of physical education and another area of learning. More information regarding summer school will be released at a later time.