Superintendent spearman is here with me today to make an announcement about the public schools, k12. As you know, by executive order, we closed those schools for a number of weeks, a decision we made after much consultation with a comprehensive group of people including parents, teachers, Health Experts, and otherwise. We decided not to reopen the schools for the rest of the school year. Schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year. When i issue that order, which will be next week, it will provide a number of things. One of them is flexibility for the districts and the superintendent, and others involved to allow teachers for special needs classes for children to do some teaching of some kind, and other flexibilities that will allow them to do things they need to o. They also dont present the threat that opening schools backup would do. Also, we would encourage School Districts and schools, principals, teachers, parents, and all involved, to have Graduation Ceremony find ways to have graduation eremonies. We know that is part of American Life and something very important to families and students who want to walk at their graduation. We understand that. We think it is very important, so we will find ways that can be accomplished, and we know that is on everyones mind. We want to thank the parents and teachers who have done a marvelous job. The superintendent will address some of those in a moment. It has been remarkable to see the effort that has been made, the highly successful effort. I have never seen anything like it. All of our students have educational advantages and opportunities at home with tablets, distance learning. A lot of thought went into it. The need for children to get learning has been uninterrupted. A little bottleneck here or there, but it has been unbelievable. We have delivered somewhere between 4 million and 5 million meals. That service will continue as it always does during the summer months. I want to particularly thank the teachers, administrators, superintendents, staff in the cafeteria, custodial and others who have done a remarkable job taking care of schools and children. In particular, i want to thank the parents. So many of them thought they were through homeschooling their children. They are back to it. We know it has been difficult. We know with hundreds of thousands of people out of work and children at home at a time that was not expected, this has been a hardship and challenge on many, many people in our state, and i want to thank them and congratulate them for the grand job, perseverance, discipline, and understanding they are showing. I imagine some are more educated when they than they were when they started, having to go back and teach children some of the things they have forgotten about over the years. So, to the parents, we say thank you. Parents, guardians, and all those who look out for the next generation that is our children, which are the most important assets we have. So, again, schools will not be reopen, but there will be lexibility statewide to take care of those who need special needs instruction and things of that nature. We want to be sure we have graduation ceremonies for young people and their families. Good morning, everyone. Governor, i want to thank you for making this difficult decision, but it is the right decision. When schools are closed, all of us hurt. Parents want their children to o to school. Teachers want them to go to school. We all want them to grow and learn. But in this pandemic, we have been able to carry on with a really good instruction. I had a call with over 4000 teachers and 80 of them said they were very pleased with how things were going. I would like to ask families to please reach out for whatever reason, if you are ill or do not understand the work, please contact your school so we can Work Together to make sure all students are moving forward. Our buildings will not open for the rest of the year, but instruction will go on. As the governor said, we have to keep things going well, and thank you, parents, for supporting us through this. We will continue to support you with good old common sense policy. The information the governor will give will allow School Districts some flexibility during the last two weeks of school, the regular calendar ear. They will be able to close out their work with the normal things they would do. With social distancing, if there are operations they can handle with good social distancing, perhaps teacher conferences if both agreed to do it face to face, they can do that. There will be a great deal of flexibility in how they can operate those last two weeks, as well as graduation ceremonies. Seniors, i have heard from you. I have gotten heart wrenching bags and please to have graduation ceremonies. I can tell you your district leaders have set up some very Creative Ideas on how they are planning to handle graduation. I hope i can attend and see some of those from a distance. We are proud of the hard work. You deserve a Graduation Ceremony and we want that to happen for you. We have served over 5 million meals as of today. Not only prepared, but delivered. Thank you to our cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and all of the teachers and principals riding the bus to deliver those meals. We want that to continue and it will with all the work we have going on in our school buildings. The flexibility to pick up your materials i know many students have materials, personal belongings in your classrooms and lockers. You will we are working on an organized way for you to be able to come and pick those up. We do need some good, Creative Minds to come together as we think about how we are going to operate Summer Reading camps. We want those to go on for elementary students, Summer Reading and math support for those who need it. We are working on a virtual platform if that is how we have to do that. Even Going Forward and thinking about august, i plan to announce a task force in the next few days to help us organize and carry out all of this. It has been a burden. But it has been a joy to see how everyone has worked together and pulled together for the good of our children. That will main our top priority, the safety and learning of our students. Remain our top priority, the safety and learning of our tudents. I know after two weeks of christmas vacation, you are ready to send your kids back to school, but i thank you for what you are doing. The most important thing is to look out for the physical and Emotional Health of your family. Any questions. How our businesses to reopen and schools remain closed . Parents may have to stay home and watch children because they dont have childcare now. Those are the kinds of things that the group we put together, a Group Representing virtually every aspect of South Carolina life, those are the kinds of questions that are going to be addressed starting at 4 00 tomorrow 2 00 tomorrow. At the Alumni Center at the niversity. Those are the kinds of questions and answers we expect to come forward, and the superintendent will be participating. E have educators in that group she just mentioned. They have some of the ideas she just mentioned. You mentioned the struggles and challenges some people are experiencing. Can you speak to what those ight be . There are some districts that have been able to carry on instruction with the teacher communicating through zoom meetings, web meetings, whatever, and they really have not missed a beat. Others have blended that. Others have relied totally on pencil and paper. In some counties, allendale or liberal, fairfield county, even. Allendale or fairfield, even in richmond, some families do not have access to the internet. That makes it more difficult. We have tried to provide ervices, we have but that is something we cannot just do as educators. That is something that accelerate South Carolina will hear loud and clear tomorrow. And some children do not do well virtually. Some thrive in a virtual environment, and others really need that relationship. For those students, we need to get them back together one on one with a student as soon as possible. For those students, are you offering wifi hotspots . Absolutely. We have sent buses with wifi to those areas and can do more if there is a district that needs hem. We are asking districts to continue instruction to the regular date. Some finish on may 29. The others and the next week or maybe the next monday in une. Whatever the regular calendar is they should continue to work until then. What are some of the things that schools could choose to o . One, they need to pick up materials. There are textbooks that need to be returned and cleaned so that we can get ready for the next year. There are personal belongings. Thats one of the main things that needs to happen. There are assessments that we do oneonone with children. We may be able to carry those out, but we want to allow flexibility in the district to do that. If parents feel comfortable, they can do that. Certainly, students with disabilities who really need a session or assessment for their individual education plan, again, we want to give that flexibility. We are not forcing folks, but if they have the flexibility to carry out, it is possible. Do you have a sense of what percentage of students or families have not been able to participate fully in education during the pandemic . I dont have the exact number, so this would be a guess, but i believe that just knowing how many districts were able to implement a full technology plan, we had 19 of those that went straight to technology. We had another 20 or so that did a blended plan. That leaves about 30 districts who had to rely on pencil and paper. So, somewhere around 25 of our districts were not able to carry out instruction through technology. We will get you those exact numbers. And the first part of your question . We are working right now. Many children have been invited to attend Summer Reading camp by law. Those are children not on grade level. There may be additional students help in not only need reading but in mathematics so, yes, we are working on that. Ines for its going to take some extra funding. E are looking at using some of our cares act funding to help support that system and how many it would take, how many sort of we might be able to involve and thats going to be to the School Districts. We are also were also virtual ight now on a model in case were not able to do that facetoface that we to provide some type of remediation in reading mathematics for children in elementary. What about enrichment . Summer camps, we have to look at that carefully. That is something that south to look at ld have and certainly the governor would have to look at the decision thosere we going to allow type settings so hell have another difficult decision to make. Yes, maam. Reporter have there been uidance on grading on a curve be . Ow lenient will we ms. Spearman we sent out quite a bit of guidance. Our website aton ed. Sc. Gov covid19. Our First Priority is to make sure seniors could graduate. We call it credit bearing any of those courses that are normally taken in high school, there are few students take credit bearing courses in middle school. So we did send out guidance that grading shouldat ontinue and should continue as normal. But with a good old dose of common sense. Know. If a student has not done well during this time, i have tried their work but they have not really done as well as they would normally would onetoone with a teacher, there is a good dose of common sense. Anything e not given out to say no grade lower than a certain number. We have not given that guidance. Depends on the local school district. We have said, though, instead of a third nine weeks grade and a weeks grade that it would be blended much like they do in higher ed. Be one grade. T will be enter into our power score. Kindergarten through eighth grade goes on as normal just the districts do. We do not dictate how thats level. Om a state reporter kindergarten and first grade, how do parents know how teach their kids . Ms. Spearman its a lot of teacher observation. To read and comprehend and tell you back the story . There are lots of ways to do it. Think the feedback, teachers are able to communicate with students through these w webex meeting. Through the paper and pencil assignments coming back in. Children areounger graded on a satisfactory, unsatisfactory. Creditt as detailed as a bearing course so its a little that. To do reporter we have areas hit by tornadoes we have areas that were hit by tornadoes and severe weather, obviously, last week. How will you be working with those districts to make sure the students can complete school year . Ms. Spearman well, we have been contact. Unfortunately, there are children who dont have a school to go to nor have a home. The Emotional Trauma is much more important to deal with that worry about n to their instruction. So in those areas, thats what im saying to folks. No. To deal with the Emotional Trauma. Well help children catch up. Working on dy guidelines and well be doing ome training for teachers this summer virtually for what will we do with instruction for those first couple weeks. Will we remediate . How will we assess the students very quickly and remediate them . In those particular areas like in seneca, down in hampton was a huge hit, there will be extra support concern because they really have had an awful ot to deal with and, you know, reading probably is not on their mind right now. Its about getting warm clothes and a house to live in and what they should be working in. Reporter you did mention you have a task force that you will be meeting with in the next weeks. Is there talks about opening up august . Ol doors this ms. Spearman we hope so. E hope well be prepared and ready to go. The answer to that question will have to be made as we get a little closer and see how healt is and how ourdy system is going but, absolutely, we are going to be working toward that. Do it, though, in a very safe way . Carry 78 buses students. And we sit three to a seat. And our classroom size typically 800 square feet and you have 24 kids in the classroom. To can the only way maintain social distancing is people be standing in the corners. Reallye going to have to look at this and maybe make some significant changes on how we the regular school day. I am not prepared to say what those will be at this point, but group to t i need a come together who really work in the trenches to help us come up with some ideas. Reporter so you mentioned the irst couple of weeks could be remediation. The third grade teachers essentially be teaching second a month . Erial for ms. Spearman possibly. We are looking at super standards. There are standards that students need to achieve but there are some that are probably others, ortant than those foundational standards. And thats what our group have been working on with teacher input, principal input. Does this her already. A good teacher know how to do this. They know how to assess their of then at the beginning year and see where everybody is nd start teaching there, personalized learning to those students to help catch them up. So i know were all real concerned about it. Feel very optimistic. I think our students and our teachers are up to the challenge up. We can catch them we may need a few extra days of instruction and, again, we can funding on res act that to add a few extra days to next school year. Believe our children will survive this and were all going to come out stronger. Going to be a reporter the care act Funding Technology . For ms. Spearman there are 12 areas that districts have flexibility spend their Education Stabilization Fund of the cares act. It includes technology. The emotional support that i think were really going to need to use. T can be additional instructional days. It can pay for cleaning of the buildings which is going to be a huge cost for us to look at when back. Rt going so there is very broad. I will say the u. S. Department of education has done an us llent job responding to and a lot of good common sense in what theyve sent out on this funding. Reporter governor, thinking only in mer sports not the community but schools, what is your guidance for you wanting to practice summer sports or community . Ay in the governor mcmaster there are sports and tice observe the social distancing. We are hoping the viers will be on us by then. We are watching it very closely, and well have announcements to make as we go orward as to what we see and what we recommend. Reporter will this affect school or will Summer School be closed . Spearman not necessarily. Well have to look at it as we get closer. Usually held in june. We could push that back to july. It could even be just a few right before School Starts normally in august. So that decision, well just at, is it possible to hold it facetoface . If not, we will be prepared with virtual platform. Reporter governor governor mcmaster does that question . R reporter have you made a decision whether you will open contact businesses . Have you made a decision on when or governor mcmaster we restricted, had close contact the barbershops and beauty parlors and those kinds of a ngs, weve not made decision. Were in the process of gathering information, getting the facts, getting the science taking the measurements. We follow the old coffin to the measure twice and cut once and we dont want to make any mistakes. We went in to the viers very carefully and a deliberate manner and i think we as well or better than ny state in the country as a result or believe are showing it and we want to come back out the ame way and revitalize our economy so that we can regain our Competitive Position with rest of the country and particularly in the southeast. Made andisions will be will be announced but were now. Ng on it right that is as well as everything. Ll the businesses that we have restricted anyway of being analyzed and studied based on and well make those decisions. Yes, maam. Reporter who questions. Expect hem is should we there to be any teacher or staff layoff in the perhaps upcoming or, perhaps, confirming if elearning classes, will they may 15 . Ms. Spearman the elearning whenever that istrict is ready to finish out their calendar yoor. There are year. There are states that closed down all learning. Think that was a good idea in South Carolina. So i really i want to say, how well our ate School Districts we have really stayed together as a unit and everybody has performed really well. I was on the phone yesterday with some folks who deal across other states and they really complimented south prepared and well how quickly we put this into order. And your second part . Eporter if we should expect any layoffs . Ms. Spearman hopefully not. Been paid s have with throughout this time. Districts, obviously i think everyone will know that revenue will be down and were waiting on the General Assembly to pass that continuing esolution which will help us with our budgets in starting up the year and then they that what the revenue is and what the General Assembly does with the School Budget when session nextk into fall and know more about what is. Revenue i think every precaution is taken to keep many of our folks we need these folks working. That decision will be made later assembly. Eral reporter going back to the maybe this is for you, superintendent. Sports and Extracurricular Activities that start over the summer, what is he guidance for football practice, band practice, cheerleading, things that start before the School Year Starts . Well, we have to work very closely with the governor and our Health Officials to know if its safe. Rule in South Carolina, working with the South CarolinaHigh School League is, then ool is in session, sports can go on. Obviously this is a little but well ituation, be working very, very closely to the health of our people are, the health of our summer. Ies are over the thats something the governor can take to end that. Ut, again, were just going to have to get a little close to see how well everyones doing and if schools going to be able open physically in august, hen i would say its a good chance those practices could resume but we have to get a closer. Governor mcmaster everything is on information, analysis of people in the area, the professionals. Of course, nclude, the terms of businesses. Labor license and organizations. Those organizations and agencies that have insight. F course, park, recreation, tourism in dwayne parish. E are taking all these facts, information, and professional advice from every source that we have to make these decisions. Maam. Reporter early on, teachers were told not to introduce new material. And obviously that changed. You address when and whether all subjects all standards hould at least be attempted to be covered this year . Ms. Spearman its a really good question. A lot as weve gone through this. I dont think any of us ever be out that we would this long. O our original direction to teachers and to districts was that no new information would be taught. Know, d be, you reflecting and repetitive work. Very quickly. D and we also have changed the uidance to make it a little more reasonable. Sending homework for two to three days is different from homework for 12 weeks and we realized honestly we were sending too much. Ease up a bit o to relax the stress on families and give students time to think what they were learning rather than so much work. Guidance is now on the website and i think that, again, teachers know what the are foundational standards that need to be taught and that is what they tried to address. Ablesome of them have been to go forward with hopefully all of the standards. Until we t say that really review with everyone. But certainly folks are focused foundational standards that children would need to accomplish in order to be able to the next grade. Thats the question ive gotten from a lot of children am i going to make my grade . Remember when i was in school, i made pretty good grades and i would still be worried about, am make my grade . Yes, you are going to make your grade unless there is an extraordinary circumstance youre really far behind and your parent should already be talking with your teacher about that. Able to go will be to the next grade. But our instructions will be for that teacher to work with the years teacher to really be sure that we remediate assess r, make sure we where students are. Reporter how many employees of School Districts tested positive for covid19 . Service heard food workers and some employees. How many people in the school istricts have been hit with this . Ms. Spearman i dont know an exact number. Handful across a the state. We worked closely and followed protocol how that should be handled but i dont know the exact number. For ps we could get that but we dont. Governor mcmaster we appreciate you coming very much. Appreciate the parents, the diligence and the parents under as well as students, the great job done by the teachers and all the district personnel, to seee working together ducation is most important education arena we are still making progress. As i look around South Carolina see the progress were making and the determination of me a ople, it reminds quote from the great boxer champion mohammad ali when a fellow asked him one time, said, champ, didnt you get either down one time by George Foreman or joe frazier and somebody and he said, son, down. Ver im either up or im getting up. Doing. Thats what were we are not done. We are getting up and getting top. To the we will revitalize the economy if we can keep educating the children well go right straight to the top. You. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] cspan has roundtheclock coverage of the federal response pandemic. Onavirus and its all available on demand cspan. Org coronavirus. Watch White House Briefings, updates from governors and state officials, track the spread throughout the u. S. And the maps. With interactive watch on demand anytime, unfiltered at cspan. Org coronavirus. For the first time in four eeks, the u. S. House meets for legislative work thursday to debate and vote on nearly 500 for coronavirus pandemic response. This fourth round of funding to the Small Business loan program, hospitals, and viers testing. Virus testing. Watch live gaveltogavel coverage of the house beginning at 10 00 eastern on cspan. While the coronavirus pandemic continues, your members of congress are working from districts. Many of my folks, 30 of them the nes that are at automotive industry. The other majority are what i ould call your frontline workers. Now theyre considered essential workers. I hope people dont forget these folks that help put groceries on our table and those demanding 15 minimum wage. I think its really important to highlight they are the ones i afloat. Eping us this is a serious issue. I have been telling people, listen to the federal authorities, local authorities, Health Experts and do, just stay away from people right now. See this as a war and the United States is at war with this virus. In touch using the newly updated cspan congressional directory. All the Contact Information you need to contact your u. S. Representative or senator. Order your copy online today at cspanstore. Org. At the White House Briefing room where soon President Trump will brief reporters on the response to the coronavirus. Hes expected to be joined by Vice President pence and members of the task force. House returnsu. S. To debate a measure that forides nearly 500 billion coronavirus response. This fourth round of funding to the Small Business loan program, hospitaling, and irus testing hospitals, and virus testing. The house returns at 10 00 a. M. Eastern on cspan. So until we hear from the briefing heres a from earlier today from the mccarthy. Eader kevin ms. Cheney i know we have members of the press joining us on the phone as well. Just say ll, let me hat we all are praying for the families whove lost people virus. Of the we thank all americans for all of the sacrifices that youre were all making willhe sacrifices that you make. We would like to be in a position to say that the road out of this is going to be easy to be fast but it wont be. It wont be over tomorrow. And going to be difficult its going to be hard but we will make it through because we americans. We are a