Birmingham City Schools Will Begin The Year Online
Students at Birmingham City Schools will begin the academic year completely online. During a press conference Wednesday, interim superintendent Mark Sullivan said BCS will implement its remote learning plan for the first nine weeks of the school year. Sullivan said school leaders will reevaluate conditions towards the end of the grading period. He said remote learning is the best option to maintain a safe environment for students.
“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that this online learning process is a process where students can get a quality education,” he said.
Sullivan said BCS will provide students with a hotspot if they have limited or no internet access. The district has at least 25,000 students. Sullivan said BCS has invested more than $10 million on digital devices since the beginning of the pandemic and the school board is prepared to invest more if needed.
BCS joins a growing list of school districts that will begin the year with remote learning. Montgomery, Huntsville, Bessemer and Tuscaloosa recently made similar announcements as the coronavirus continues to threaten communities across the state.
School will start back Aug. 10 for students and Aug. 4 for teachers. All MPS students will be in a virtual learning environment for the first 9 weeks. Attached are answers to FAQs about reopening and virtual learning. Also visit https://t.co/OVEwUbmjX2. pic.twitter.com/S5fBjvjCj7
— MontgomeryCoSchools (@MPSAL) July 22, 2020
Sullivan’s announcement comes less than a week after BCS officials announced four options to begin the school year. Sullivan referenced data from the Alabama Department of Public Health, saying it guided his decision that remote learning is the best option for teachers, students and staff.
BCS classes begin on August 24.
Trump slashes mental health agency as shutdown drags on
Sources tell NPR that more than 100 employees have been laid off at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had some cuts reversed late Saturday.
Nobel Prize winner Machado says Venezuela is in ‘chaos’ under current regime
The far-right leader of Venezuela's opposition party said that the current president is illegitimate and called for his removal.
Trump directs Pentagon to use ‘available funds’ to pay military during shutdown
President Trump's announcement comes days before active duty members would have missed their first full paycheck as the shutdown of the federal government continues.
Smithsonian museums and National Zoo set to close as shutdown takes its toll
The shutdown is forcing the closure of a number of America's beloved cultural institutions starting Sunday. Twenty-one Smithsonian museums, its research centers and the National Zoo are all affected.
4 dead and 12 injured in a shooting after Mississippi homecoming game
The small town of Leland, Miss., was rocked by the shooting, which took place late Friday.
Africa’s oldest leader isn’t ready to retire – and he’s not the only one defying age
At 92, Cameroon's President aul Biya is running for an eighth term on Sunday — a reminder of how Africa's aging leaders continue to cling to power, even as their nations face unrest, corruption, and calls for change.
