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Buckingham County Public Schools (BCPS) officials have announced the first nine weeks of classes will be conducted virtually.

BCPS is the second school system in the area to confirm the decision to go online-only for the first nine weeks after Cumberland County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Chip Jones announced Wednesday, July 22, Cumberland students would be doing the same.

BCPS Superintendent Dr. Daisy Hicks verified the news in a Sunday, July 26, email. Hicks stated after continually monitoring numerous data points regarding coronavirus, the school system determined the surrounding area had experienced a recent increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases.

Hicks said in order to assist with the mitigation of community spread, BCPS will open virtually/remotely from the first day of school, Aug. 10, to Oct. 12.

After the first nine weeks, school officials will reevaluate the status of COVID-19 in the area to determine if in-person learning can resume.

Hicks added once the decision to go fully online was made, families were notified via the school’s instant message call system Wednesday, July 22. She said students will continue to have access to meals during the first nine weeks, and BCPS will provide all students with a Chromebook and USB drives and will place hot spots throughout the county for students to have access to the internet.

“Safety for all must be our top priority during this unprecedented time,” she concluded.

Charlotte County Public Schools (CCPS) Superintendent Robbie Mason announced Friday, July 24, Charlotte’s school system would reverse plans for a modified in-school schedule and instead students would be taking classes solely online from the beginning of school Aug. 10 to Sept. 4 at the earliest.

Prince Edward County Public Schools (PECPS) officials announced Superintendent Dr. Barbara Johnson was scheduled to hold a Tuesday, July 28, address for school system families at 1 p.m. on Facebook Live. The announcement did not include what subject matter would be discussed in the address.