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With the announcement of White County schools closing next week, March 16-20, the school system is working on plans for the future.
With the announcement of White County schools closing next week, March 16-20, the school system is working on plans for the future.
The decision to close the school for a week came after Gov. Brian Kemp’s advice to close schools for two weeks and after several conference calls, one with the governor and all school superintendents, and one with the school districts in Pioneer RESA.
“From all of all discussion, and an abundance of caution and trying to be proactive, we felt it was best to make that decision,” Burkett said. “I like the idea of reevaluating at the end of next week. It’s so hard to know what’s going to happen, we’re trying to not overact, but we’re being careful. I feel good about that decision.”
Even though schools will be closed next week, March 16-20, White County School System will still be offering breakfast and lunch to students with their summer feeding program and a drive thru at White County Middle School.
“Our summer feeding program is about to go into place,” Burkett said. “We will do a lunch and breakfast for the next week. Another thing we’ll do is a drive thru at the middle school, so you can drive thru the middle school, just like picking child up, get a lunch and breakfast for the next morning, and we will be able to feed every child breakfast and lunch for free.”
The following locations will have the summer feeding program:
- Bryant Street Community Center: 11 a.m.
- Whitehall Commons Apartment: 11:15 a.m.
- Brookwood Village: 11:45 a.m.
- Mossy Acres Mobile Home Park: 12:15 p.m.
- Cleveland City Park: 11:30 a.m.
- White Street: noon
- Oak Springs Community Center: 11:15 a.m.
- Lanier Ridge Apartments: 11:35 a.m.
- Sunny Ridge Apartments: noon
- Kinsey Town Bus Route: 11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
- Unicoi Hill Park: noon
- Shoal Creek Baptist Church: 11:30 a.m.
- White County Middle School (families will drive up to the front of the school, meals will be brought to their cars): 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Along with school being cancelled next week, all sports and other activities have been cancelled, Burkett said. This is following the recommendation from the Georgia high School Association, who is following the advice of Gov. Kemp.
In regards to prom, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, Burkett said she spoke to WCHS principal Mary Anne Collier, and they hope to make a decision about it next week.
The school system will meet on Thursday, March 19, to re-evaluate the situation and make a decision about whether or not schools be closed for that next week, she said.
Burkett said she’s overwhelmed and thankful for the support from the community and those that have reached out asking how they can help.
An updated list of closings and cancellations can be found here.