Lake Norman Publications

Lincoln Charter to start school year with remote learning



All middle and high school students will receive laptops to complete their work online at the start of the school year.

In a meeting that lasted more than three hours, the Lincoln Charter School Board voted to start the upcoming school year under the state’s Plan C guidelines, meaning all students will learn remotely. 

“It wasn’t what I would consider to be an easy decision, but it really boils down to trying to err on the side of caution,” said Lincoln County Chief Administrator Jonathan Bryant. “We wanted to make sure we were making a safe decision.”

While the transition from in-person to remote learning wasn’t seamless, Bryant said teachers at the school were prepared to connect with students online when schools first shut down in March.

“We’re in a pretty good position from an e-learning perspective, because of the emphasis we put on technology and professional development for teachers, and investing in infrastructure and devices,” Bryant said. 

Students in middle and high school were given laptops to take home to complete their schoolwork online, and younger students will be able to check out a computer if they need one. 

To accommodate students without an internet connection at home, the school is offering free wifi on its campuses that can be accessed in the parking lot, and wifi “hotspot” devices were handed out to families who live farther away from the campus. 

With the help of local donors, the school started a food delivery program and food pantry in March to feed students breakfast and lunch during the pandemic, Bryant said, noting there are also ways to keep support staff involved while students are not at school. 

“We’re going to continue that program,” Bryant said. “We’ve partnered with a number of different community organizations and other churches, and there was a lot of initial help and support from the community. We’ve never done anything like that before, but it’s indicative of how our community rallies together when a challenge comes up.” 

School administrators are awaiting guidance from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, which postponed sports until September, and Bryant said he is still unsure if clubs and other extracurricular activities will meet in-person. 

“I find myself saying, ‘We have more questions that answers’ a lot, and that’s certainly one of those areas where we’re just trying to figure out how to do the most we can,” said Bryant, referring to clubs sponsored by the school.  

“It has been a challenge for sure, but part of education is reacting to challenges and making the most of every situation, and doing the right thing for kids,” Bryant added. “That’s what we’re trying to do.” 

Although it isn’t scheduled yet, Bryant said another vote to partially reopen schools could take place July 27, and that the board would consider allowing in-person learning if the rate of new COVID-19 cases in the state drops. 

“One of the really challenging aspects of this entire situation is that it continues to change,” Bryant said. “We’re certainly open to anything that is good for students and teachers, but we want to be safe.” 

For more information on reopening plans at Lincoln Charter School, visit lincolncharter.org

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