Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
On Wednesday afternoon, some of the most anticipated words that an elementary school student’s parent wanted to hear came to pass as Elizabethton City Schools Director Richard VanHuss announced that beginning on Monday, January 25th that all elementary students in grades Pre-K through fifth grade will return to school for four days – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

This was the same schedule the students were attending before Christmas break. Wednesday will remain a virtual day for all students.

Students that attend T.A. Dugger and Elizabethton High School in grades 6-12 will stay on a hybrid schedule at this time.

VanHuss is continuing to meet with the Carter County Health Department for directions on handling getting students back to school in a timely but safe manner.

The ever-changing situation will be closely monitored to determine when the middle and high school students can return to school for in-person studies on a larger scale.

VanHuss was asked about those students who currently are on a distant learning plan if their parents wanted to send their children back to school for the four days of instruction if that was something that could occur.

“Absolutely because we want these kids back before us as much as possible,” VanHuss said. “They would need to contact their child’s school to do so but yes we want them back.”

The director also added that the second additional shipment of Chromebooks that the school system has been waiting on has finally arrived.

Each school is working on a plan to distribute these devices to those students who have not yet received one.

VanHuss stated it was important for parents that if their child has not received a school-issued device that they complete the ECS Device Agreement form on Skyward Family Access so their child can receive their device without delay.

The link to follow for completing the form is located on the main school system webpage at www.ecschools.net.

If any parent has any questions either about the schedule or the Chromebooks, VanHuss advised parents to contact the main office at their child’s school.