By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Adapt and Adjust.
Like all other school systems in the state, Union City is operating under that philosophy while dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to sweep the world.
President Donald Trump extended social distancing guidelines until the end of the month earlier this week, and UC Schools will thus remain closed until Monday, May 4, due to concerns over the coronavirus.
There have been no classes in the UC Schoo System since March 19.
Students were initially set to return April 13 – after a two-week period first initiated by Gov. Bill Lee and an already-scheduled Spring Break, April 6-10. President Trump and Lee added two more weeks to address heightened concerns over the crisis and its widespread effects last week before Trump then extended that through April 30 in his Monday address this week.
UC Director of Schools Wes Kennedy held his second meeting with other Union City school administrators Thursday morning, with the group making several decisions on events that were on the original 2019-20 school calendar and delaying a handful of others.
Graduation is still on the docket for May 16 at 8 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium. Kennedy said he would consider alternative plans if the virus concerns remain and regulations are still in place at that date. Baccalaureate services remain scheduled for May 10 at the Civic Auditorium.
The last day of classes for the remainder of the student body – if school resumes – is still set for May 21.
Awards Day in the UC School System is still set for May 15 and will be both a big and busy one for all involved. In addition to academic accolades, the winner of the car donated by City Auto Plex, based on perfect attendance, will be announced.
That same day, students at Union City Middle School will present their science projects at the school’s annual Science Fair.
The UCHS prom has been pushed back two weeks, to May 9, and will still be held at The Venue – as of now. Principal Jacob Cross said that, too, could change, depending on continuing circumstances. The annual ritual had originally been scheduled for April 25.
The decision on dates for registration and freshman orientation for next school year has been delayed for two weeks.
All extracurricular activities at each of the system’s three campuses have been canceled, including the Academic Banquet (April 27) at the high school, the annual Book Fair and class musicals and plays at UC Elementary School. Any field trips that were previously on the calendar are now off, too.
The 43rd annual Rotary Relays – the longest-running track meet in rural West Tennessee – scheduled for April 28 and 30, has been canceled for this year by club officials who ran the event. It will not be rescheduled.
Union City Schools will resume its meal delivery program on April 13, the Monday after Spring Break. That service will be amended at that time to two days a week, though, as on Mondays students will pick up or have delivered meals for three days, before Thursday meals for two days will be provided.
“These are obviously unprecedented times,” Kennedy said. “We are trying to be sensitive to everyone involved from our seniors, to the rest of the student body, their families and our faculty as we make these decisions. It is not an easy process.
“Things seemingly change every day, but we’re doing the best we can to reschedule the most important things and keep all involved in the know. Obviously, there could be more changes downs the road. I want everyone to rest assured that we’ll make any decision moving forward only after collecting all the data and information we can and with the safety of everyone involved considered.”
Kennedy went on to say it is his hope that – even if for a week or two – students can return to classes to complete the 2019-20 school year.
“I think it’s important, if only for a few days or few weeks, we get our students back to school and back in routine as much as possible,” he said. “It’s not only important to the kids, it’s important to entire families as we seek a return to some sense of normalcy.”
Kennedy will revisit the situation in another meeting with his administrators on April 13.