By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–The current schedule of classes for students in the Union City School System will remain in place until the end of the first semester of the 2020-21 school year.
Director of Schools Wes Kennedy announced the decision to all UCSS stakeholders today, reserving the right to change paths in the event additional data regarding COVID-19 cases warrants doing so.
Currently, Union City Schools is operating under Level 2.51. In that plan, students in PreK-6th grade receive in-person instruction five days a week, while students in Grades 7-12 attend in-person classes Monday through Thursday. Fridays are reserved for both Distance Learning and appointment-scheduled tutoring in Grades 7-12.
The last day of classes for the first semester for Union City School System students is Dec. 18.
“It remains a situation that is fluid,” Kennedy said. “There’s a delicate balance between monitoring the daily data of COVID cases in Obion County and also trying to give our students and their parents a plan to go by so that they may have a plan in their lives.
“Things can change quickly and drastically in either direction. We’ll always make decisions based on the best interest of our students, faculty and administration.”
Right now, Kennedy said, that decision is to remain status quo with a plan that has mostly in-person classroom instruction for UC Schools students while also giving those with concerns of such environment an option.
“We’re constantly monitoring the effectiveness and progress of our students, both in the classroom and in a virtual setting,” the head of schools said. “Right now, we have to make COVID a variable in that equation — not only the number of cases in our community, but also the number of faculty and students we have who are quarantined due to contact exposure.
“Safety and the well-being of our people is our top priority. And right now, this plan is working best for us.”
Kennedy said he would not make a decision on the second semester schedule that begins Jan. 5 until much closer to that date.
UC Schools will dismiss classes Nov. 25-27 for Thanksgiving Break.