By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Union City Schools will comply with Gov. Bill Lee’s recommendation that schools remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 calendar year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Director of Schools Wes Kennedy confirmed UC’s three campuses would follow the suggestion of Lee, who made his desires public at Wednesday afternoon’s regular briefing on the state of affairs.
Union City Schools first closed due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak March 19.
Lee said distance-learning would continue throughout the remainder the current school year with an eye on opening the 2020-21 school year on schedule in August.
The governor said the Department of Education would work with local districts in not only continuing to provide resources to keep students engaged this year, but also would work to make up for lost classroom time and begin preparing statewide and locally for next year.
Soon after Lee’s press update Wednesday, the TSSAA (Tennessee Secondary Athletic Association) announced it was canceling all spring sports activities and championships for this school year. Additionally, the state basketball championships that were suspended after girls’ quarterfinals play in March have been cancelled.
Regulations involving practices and activities for the summer will be released soon, the organization said.
Kennedy said he’ll be meeting with school administrators and other personnel Friday morning and expects to have a decision within “a week or two” regarding dates and plans for graduation, Honors Day and prom, among other traditional end-of-school activities.
UCHS Principal Jacob Cross will be posting a video for incoming freshmen on school’s website (tornadotouch.net) as a substitute for freshman orientation. There will be additional videos for upperclassmen with information about the course selection process for next year.
Cross said he expected to have the videos posted by Monday.
“We certainly wish we could’ve resumed our regular school day routine – even if just for a couple of weeks – but we recognize that the safety of our students and our faculty is of the utmost importance,” Kennedy stated. “We’re in agreement with the governor that this is the best possible way to ensure that.
“We are going to have a graduation ceremony of some sort. Our seniors deserve that. Their families and friends deserve that. And we’ll have some other events that honor our seniors and are a part of the traditional educational experience. We will gather all information, make a decision on the best dates for those things, and keep our student body and their families involved.”
Kennedy recently corresponded with UCHS seniors and their parents via letter, promising support and asking for input that would help mold the decision-making process moving forward. He said he had received considerable positive response and thankfulness for his gesture.
“There might not be a how-to manual on how to deal with this type of situation, but we’re going to gather all the information we can and make the best possible decisions we can for our people,” Kennedy added. “I appreciate the efforts and attitudes of our teachers and our students during this time, and I know they’ll continue to work diligently through the end of this school year and in preparing for next year.”
Kennedy also announced that UC Schools would continue to provide meals for any child 18 and younger until May 22. Currently, a system is in place that allows for bus delivery and one pickup site (Kiwanis Park) that hands out three days of meals on both Monday and Thursday, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Union City Schools are set to open for teachers the first week of August, with the first day of classes for students set for Aug. 10.