Greensboro Reporter

Guilford County Board of Education recently voted 5-4 to return students to school to some degree.

The phased re-entry means that students in elementary and middle school will begin class in October. High school students will not be resuming in-person class until January, Rep. Jon Hardister (R-Guilford) said in a Sept. 25 Facebook post.

Students K-5 will go to school five days a week with K-2 returning on Tuesday, Oct. 20 and third to fifth grade returning on Monday, Oct. 26, Hardister said on Facebook.

Middle school students will attend two days per week with sixth grade returning on Tuesday, Oct. 20 and seventh- and eighth-graders returning Monday, Oct. 26, the post said. Middle school students will split with half going to school on Mondays and Tuesdays, with the other half going to school Thursday and Friday's. Wednesday's will be for remote learning and cleaning facilities.

Students with special needs, including those with developmental disabilities, those in foster care, and those who are homeless, will be authorized to return to high school on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

"I realize that many parents are not satisfied with this decision. Unfortunately, as a state legislator, I do not have direct authority over this matter," Hardister said on his Facebook page. "I would prefer to see students return to school for full in-person instruction with safety protocols, but this matter is outside of my current jurisdiction. We must take the virus seriously and implement safety measures, but students need to be back in school."