Governor McMaster, Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman, and State public health officials issued a briefing today on the COVID-19/Coronavirus. All South Carolina K-12 schools, universities, and colleges will be closed starting tomorrow until the end of the month. Other closures will likely be announced in the coming days.
The Department of Education is working to provide internet access to students so they can participate in virtual learning. Superintendent Spearman announced that 3,000 school buses will be equipped with Wi-Fi and encouraged school districts to use their buses to drop off instructional materials along bus routes.
It is important for families to know Summer Food Service will be available to feed all children 4–18 state-wide. Two meals a day will be provided to ALL students regardless of “reduced lunch” eligibility. I will provide more information on how that will be implemented as soon as it becomes available.
I want to thank the public officials who have worked around the clock to ensure the health and safety of our state. It is important to set an example during these uncertain times with the goal being to reduce the opportunity for an outbreak in our respective communities. Let’s look at other areas around the world who are suffering and do what we can now to prevent that from happening here at home. Right now, as a community, we have the opportunity to slow the spread of this virus down by social distancing and taking certain preventive measures. All of us should try to do our part to flatten the curve.
I have listed information below surrounding closures, safety measures, and updates on the COVID-19/Coronavirus. I will continue to update you as more information is provided.
This DHEC page provides real time updates on the confirmed number of cases in our state, details on monitoring and testing, and other safety measures.
To help students be able to learn in a virtual environment, free Wi-Fi services will be available starting tomorrow, March 16th while schools are closed. Charter Communications through the Spectrum network will be offering students free Wi-Fi in homes where it is not already installed and opening up their hotspots to the public nation-wide.