Good afternoon, NCCVT families and staff.
For the safety of our students, NCCVT will continue with virtual, asynchronous learning for the remainder of this week. 12-month employees should report to work in person unless they have permission from their supervisor to work remotely. There will be no evening Adult Education classes; however, the Delaware Skills Center will be open.
Approximately 75% of our students rely on school buses each day. Today, our Transportation Supervisor, Director of Operations, Superintendent, and bus drivers were in our communities - visiting our campuses, driving bus routes, and assessing designated bus stops. While our school buildings are ready to welcome students and staff thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our facilities teams, the conditions in many neighborhoods remain unsafe for students who ride the bus or for inexperienced student drivers.
Across the County, we observed:
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Neighborhoods that have not yet been plowed
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Roads reduced to a single lane that should be multi-lane
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Bus stops and sidewalks covered in snow and ice
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Parked or disabled vehicles blocking roadways
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Corners that simply aren't wide enough to accommodate a turning school bus
With 8-10 inches of snow, significant ice accumulation, and continued below-freezing temperatures, conditions have not improved enough since yesterday to allow for a safe return to in-person learning. The snow and ice are not melting quickly, and keeping students learning from home for the next two days is the safest decision we can make.
That said, remote learning is not where we want to remain.
We miss our students, and our goal is to welcome them back in person on Monday. Reaching that goal will require a community effort, and there are meaningful ways families and community members can help:
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If a bus stop is located on your property and you are able to clear a safe, off-road space for students to stand, please consider doing so.
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If your child's bus stop is not cleared, partnering with neighbors to make it safe can make a real difference.
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If your neighborhood has not been plowed and you have a neighborhood or civic association, please reach out to someone on the association board to request assistance.
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If a vehicle is stuck and blocking the roadway, helping clear enough snow to allow buses to pass safely can support the entire route.
Working together, we can improve conditions, restore safe transportation, and bring students back into our buildings as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued patience, support, and partnership as we prioritize both safety and learning.