The Cumberland County Board of Education in a special called meeting tonight unanimously voted to give Director of Schools Dr. Ina Maxwell authority to put into place and carry out a plan to open schools on time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first partial day in Cumberland County schools is August 5^th and the first full day will be August 7, 2020.

Dr. Maxwell proposed to have students temperatures checked daily once school starts. Additional thermometers have been provided by TEMA and donations of digital thermometers to the school system will be appreciated. Masks for staff and students will be provided by the health department. The wearing of the masks will be optional. All steps that can be taken to reduce the chance of the virus spreading will be done.

If a child wakes up with a fever, parents or guardians are encouraged to keep them at home.

Since this topic was not on the special called agenda tonight (the budget was on it), another vote will take place during the regular scheduled meeting later this month (July 2020). This will also give the school board another look at the COVID-19 situation in the county.