The Lexington Two School District Board met Thursday and approved a start date of Sept. 8 for the 2020-21 school year, following the recommendation of Gov. Henry McMaster.

In-person classes will only be offered by the district for two days of the week.

Virtual classes will be presented three days of the week. Details of the hybrid/blended instructional plan will be released in the coming days.

An email from Superintendent Dr. William B. James Jr. reads:
While our goal is to reunite students and teachers in schools as soon and as safely as possible, the trending “high” numbers of COVID-19 cases in Lexington County, as reported by DHEC, continue to pose health and safety challenges. As a result of the current high numbers of cases in our community, and in an abundance of caution to protect employees, students and families, the board at its (Thursday) meeting endorsed a hybrid/blended plan for face-to-face instruction to start the new school year, in which 4K-12 students will attend in-person learning two days a week and virtual learning three days a week.

The hybrid/blended plan will allow for only 50 percent of students in the building at one time. It also allows for the smallest class sizes and maximum safe distancing, according to the district.
The hybrid/blended plan pairs with the previously announced Lexington Two Virtual Academy program, a full-time virtual learning plan for 5K-12 students.

Lexington Two administration will monitor trends as they relate to the coronavirus with the goal to reunite students and teachers for 5-day face-to-face instruction as quickly and as safely as possible.

The district also said, as the Sept. 8 start date nears, “if COVID cases go down from current levels to an acceptable level as assessed by DHEC and other guidance, the district would act to move to 5-day in-person instruction, still pairing with the Lexington Two Virtual Academy program.”
Also: the deadline has been extended to August 1 for families to apply to the Lexington Two Virtual Academy program. More information on the program and an application are available at lex2.org/virtualacademy/