Saturday, Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras along with other county officials and Mayor Nancy Vaughn, spoke on Governor Roy Cooper’s announcement of North Carolina Schools closing for two weeks beginning Monday, March 16.
The Saturday presser was held at 6 p.m. in the Guilford County Schools Central Office Board Room.
Some of the biggest things touched on in the presser were overall health and safety, how low-income students would receive food with schools being closed, and future student plans.
GCS plans to communicate with teachers and staff members about what the school systems plans are going forward. Another press conference is also scheduled for Sunday to clarify questions and concerns as things develop.
Contreras says she's working on ways to feed more than 50,000 low income children. Perhaps bus drivers will deliver food to bus stops.
"The most pressing issue right now is making sure that children and families are fed," she said.
On Saturday, Gov. Roy Cooper made the executive order to close all public schools in North Carolina.
In lieu of the closing(s) Governor Roy Cooper said: “We are working on efforts to deal with these challenges, from changes to unemployment insurance to special funding from the state and federal government to help get us through this.”
The main message, the community is working together to find solutions. And students should know:
"We love them, we care about them. And if they need anything. If they are in trouble, if they feel unsafe if they need help, they can contact us. They can call us," Contreras said.
Guilford County Schools sent out a press release Saturday announcing the closure.
The school system decided for Monday, March 16 to be a mandatory teacher workday for all Guilford County Schools personnel, except those who are sick, already on approved leave or considered high-risk for the coronavirus.
“This closure will have an immense impact on many of our GCS families,” said Superintendent Dr. Sharon Contreras. “However, we know this is what must be done to help contain the spread of this virus.”
The school district says schools will be open Monday, March 16 for students to pick up books, bookbags, medicine and personal items.
"However, schools will only be open from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., as we cannot have more than 100 people inside the building at one time," Guilford County Schools said. "If families cannot make it within these times, please call your school to make an appointment."
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