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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
In a move that was expected by many, students in grades 6-12 in the Elizabethton City School system will return to a hybrid schedule for the rest of the semester when they come out of the upcoming Thanksgiving break according to Director of Schools Richard VanHuss.

The decision does not impact the elementary schools at this time and runs until December 18 which is the beginning of the Christmas break.

VanHuss said the decision to stay on the hybrid schedule was due to the continued high number of positive COVID cases in the community.

It will not impact those students who are currently on the Distance Learning Track either.

Mondays and Tuesdays will be days set aside for students with last names beginning with A-L to physically attend school and then for the remaining days in the week these students will be attending virtually.

Students with the last name beginning with M-Z will attend in-person school on Thursday and Friday while virtually attending Monday through Wednesday.

VanHuss also wanted to make those parents and students who might have an interest in The Distance Learning Track for the second semester that they will need to complete the DIstance Learning Application by the end of the day on Friday, December 4, 2020.

For students who are currently in The Distance Learning Track for this semester will need to reapply if they wish to continue attending virtually when school begins again after the Christmas break.

Any student who attended school in person this semester but wishes to be considered for The Distance Learning Track in the spring needs to fill out the application.

For students who do not fill out the application, those will be expected to attend school in person beginning on January 6, 2021.

If any student plans on applying for the Distance Learning Track for the first time VanHuss said those students are strongly encouraged to read the Distance Learning Track Handbook, Virtual Learning Expectations, and FAQs before applying.

“All of this information can be found at www.ecschools.net by clicking the “2020-2021 ECS Re-Entry Information” tab at the top of the page. The Distance Learning Application can also be found on both the website and on ECS social media pages.

Again, the deadline to apply is Friday, December 4, 2020.

VanHuss said if anyone had questions about the hybrid schedule or The Distance Learning Application, they should contact their child’s school.