In a special called meeting tonight, the Cumberland County School Board approved by a vote of 9-1 (Shirley Parris being the sole no vote) to proceed with the scheduled start of school of August 5, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The opening of school will be a traditional or virtual learning option for students. The board also voted to mandate the wearing of masks for students as well as teachers and all school employees unless a medical condition exists.

Board member Teresa Boston opened the meeting by saying the state is not issuing a waiver this time like they did last school year of the 180 days required by state law for schools being in session. “The public needs to be patient with us as the school board comes up with the safest plan for school to reopen,” said Boston.

Dr. Ina Maxwell presented the draft plan to the school board. She ended it by saying the parents need to help in checking their students temperatures prior to their child coming to school. If it is above 100.4 degrees, the student should be kept home.

“We are in unchartered water now. We may have to go to remote learning if the virus gets worse,” said Dr. Maxwell.

The school system is in the process of obtaining face shields for teachers and staff.

Board member Shirley Parris then voiced her concerns about starting school in August with the COVID-19 numbers rising in the county.

“We need to wait until after Labor Day then put this plan into place if the situation is not any worse. I will not be responsible if we start school as scheduled and we have one student or one teacher that gets the coronavirus and dies from it,” said Parris.

Board member Jim Inman said he is for students wearing masks from a certain grade up and consider mandating masks for those students. “If there is a medical exception, then the mask can be waived for those particular students. If a doctor says a student cannot wear a mask because of a medical condition, we cannot make them,” said Inman. “We do need to be better safe than sorry in this situation.”

Board member Tony Brock stated we are in the business of taking care of kids. “If one mask can help save a life of a child or staff member then mandate the wearing of masks in schools,” said Brock.

The board asks for the opinion of the school board attorney, Earl Patton. “There are other school systems that require the wearing of masks unless the student has a medical condition that prohibits it. If this school board votes to require the wearing of masks by students, you must have the medical exemption in place,” said Patton.

School board member Robbie Safdie said he would suggest all staff and teachers to go voluntary to be tested for COVID-19. But given the fact that results take up to 10 days to return, all would have to take the test by this Thursday (July 23, 2020) to get the results back in time for an August 5, 2020 opening. If school was delayed until after Labor Day, it gives more time for testing to be done. That suggestion was not voted on by the board and is optional for teachers to do.

Here is the drafted reopening plan accepted by the school board tonight for the Cumberland County School System for the 2020-2021 school year:

CUMBERLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS REOPENING PLAN FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES 2020-2021

To see the entire draft plan that will go into place, click on the following :

Cumberland County Tennessee Reopening Plan.docx