Governor Cooper Under Pressure to Reopen Schools

Recently re-elected N.C. Governor Roy Cooper faces what may be his biggest challenge to date in his second term: the debate over school reopening under COVID-19. Source.

The COVID-19 pandemic has crippled much of the United States, especially in the realm of education. Schools quickly and unexpectedly transitioned to online instruction in March of 2020, and have since been online, with  few exceptions. Although teachers were able to make adjustments over the summer, online learning has yet to meet the level of efficiency seen when students are in the classroom. 

Currently, there are three different methods for schools to adjust their instruction methods: Plans A, B, and C. Plan A, allows schools to offer in-person learning five days a week, Plan B allows schools to offer a hybrid style of learning with some days in-person while others remote, and Plan C only allows remote learning. Middle and high schools have only been able to choose between Plans B and C since last October. However, in the same time, elementary schools have been granted the option to offer in-person instruction five days a week under Plan A.

Recently, Governor Roy Cooper has gone on the record “strongly urging” schools to allow students the option for in-person classes, stating “it’s time to get our children back into the classroom.” Although Cooper is pushing for in-person classes, he wants to allow at-risk students and those students who are uncomfortable going to school in-person to remain online. 

Cooper made public his thoughts on the issue in a press conference one day after Republicans filed a bill regarding in-person instruction. The bill that has been introduced to the General Assembly would require all K-12 schools to give students the option for in-person learning. For clarification, this bill will not require students to attend school in-person but simply allow them to have the opportunity as opposed to having to choose between Plans B and C. Cooper has reservations about the bill even though he has admitted the importance of in-person learning but it is still unclear whether he will veto the bill or sign it into law, as it will likely pass in the majority-Republican General Assembly. Cooper is concerned about requiring schools to offer in-person classes, as he believes it should be a local issue for the school boards. He believes the school systems should have the final decision because they are best positioned to determine whether or not they will be able to effectively abide by the social distancing and mask guidelines. 

Republicans have consistently pushed for schools to reopen and allow in-person learning while Democrats have looked to Cooper for guidance. The aforementioned proposed bill would require Plan A for special-education students while all other students will have the option to choose between Plans A and B. In addition, the bill, if signed, would go into effect 15 days later on the first weekday. Furthermore, there is another bill that will provide $1.6 billion in funding for schools in order to aid them in their reopening efforts should the in-person instruction bill be signed into law. 

Many schools have expressed interest in opening and so have many teachers. However, some teachers are concerned that they will be at-risk and will not be vaccinated in time. Currently, teachers are in Group 3 to be vaccinated, however, Group 3 is not due to be vaccinated for at least a few more weeks. This problem could be solved if Cooper would prioritize teachers for the sake of in-person instruction but as of now, he has refused to make amendments to the current vaccination schedule. If teachers were vaccinated or at least had the option to be vaccinated, more would be willing to return to in-person instruction, but until they receive this opportunity, many will continue to prefer remote learning. 

Some school systems have already stated they would abide by a bill requiring the option of in-person learning but are concerned they would be unable to properly abide by the current health and safety mandates. In addition, there are school district officials who claim that Cooper’s guidance on the issue has been unhelpful as they are still under pressure to reopen schools from parents, students, and teachers. 

Ultimately, the reopening of schools will likely be left to the local school systems as it seems unlikely Cooper will sign the bill currently in the General Assembly unless he and Republicans can come to an agreement on flexibility. Furthermore, schools will be less inclined to reopen as long as teachers are not being vaccinated. Governor Cooper has a tough decision to make, but he faces significant and conflicting pressure from massive constituencies: parents, students, and teachers.