While the first doses of the coronavirus Pfizer vaccine arrived in South Carolina on Monday, the virus’ threat isn’t over just yet.

As daily coronavirus case rates remain high across South Carolina, local school districts have begun to reevaluate learning plans. This week, many districts around the Midlands have announced schedule adjustments in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID following winter break.

Getting stuff done during virtual learning. | Gif via Giphy

📚 Lexington-Richland School District Five

At a school board meeting Monday night, Lexington-Richland Five approved a plan for virtual-only instruction for the first three days following winter break (Jan. 4-6). Students will return to the four-day-a-week model on Jan. 7. The board also approved a plan to reevaluate operations for individual schools if the quarantine rate at any school reaches or exceeds 10%.

📚 Richland School District One

On Monday, Richland County School District One announced all students will return from winter break in a virtual capacity on Jan. 4. While the district will continue to monitor coronavirus cases, it currently plans resume hybrid learning on Jan. 19.

📚 Richland School District Two

Earlier this week, Richland School District Two announced that all afterschool activities have been cancelled from Tuesday, Dec. 15 through Jan. 3. The district will also have all schools resume virtual instruction when they return from winter break on Jan. 4. In-person instruction will resume on Jan. 19. Employees have the option to work remotely during the virtual instruction period and front offices will remain open to assist parents and students.

Additional coronavirus funding for South Carolina public schools is also on the way. Earlier this week, the South Carolina Department of Education announced that SC schools will receive over $84 million – which will be distributed on a per-student basis – from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund. The funds can only be spent on PPE, tools to assist with online learning, the hiring of school nurses + the hiring of staff to assist students who are struggling. View the totals each Midlands school district will receive here.