HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) – Students in Haywood County returned to the classroom mask free this week, with hopes of a more ‘normal’ post pandemic school year. Last year, Haywood County students and staff were required to wear facial covering for a good portion of the year. This year, masks are optional, and most COVID-19 related precautions are gone.
AND…
While COVID precautions have expired, school officials say they are turning their focus to safety and security once again this year in the wake of mass school shootings. The school system says for the past decade, the district has done live drills and trainings while working closely with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of the students. Currently, Haywood County has school resource officers in the middle and high schools, and the superintendent says that he hopes to expand SRO staff to the elementary schools as well.
MEANWHILE…
A mass exodus of teachers and other school staff have left the county struggling to fill numerous open positions. A few weeks ago, that number stood at around 20 openings across the district, for teachers, bus drives and custodians. Also, Hawywood County will have to find a new school superintendent after the announcent that Dr. Bill Nolte will be retiring from the Haywood County School District in just a few months.
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