January 14, 2021

Dear Morgan County Families,
On December 30, Governor Justice made the announcement that schools would continue on remote learning through January 15 and recommended that students in grades K-8 return to in-person learning on January 19. Students in grades 9-12 would attend unless the county was red on the WVDHHR map. If red, high school students would remain in remote learning. Morgan
County Schools has received much feedback from the community and staff regarding in-person learning and has taken that input into consideration.
In response to that input, to the West Virginia Board of Education direction from yesterday’s meeting and to the January 11,
2021 Executive Order by Governor Justice, Morgan County Schools has decided that the safest way to return to school on
January 19 is with a blended model. This means that students will be returning to school only two days per week at this time
in order to reduce the numbers of students in classrooms and on our buses. This will greatly improve our ability to social
distance and enable us to better protect students and staff. This model will remain in effect through February 19. The board
will reconsider options at that time.
To further explain, families with students in grades PK-5 will be contacted on Friday by your child’s teacher to let you know
which days your students will attend each week. They will either be in Group 1 or Group 2. Group 1 students will typically
attend on Monday and Tuesday each week with Wednesday through Friday being remote learning days. Group 2 students will
typically attend Thursday and Friday each week, with Monday through Wednesday being remote learning days. Families with
students in multiple schools will be assigned to attend on the same days. Students in Warm Springs Middle School and
Berkeley Springs High School will be split into groups by last name. Students with last names A-L will be Group 1 and will
attend on Mondays and Tuesdays and students with last names M-Z will be Group 2 and will attend on Thursdays and Fridays.
Because Monday, January 18 is a holiday, Group 1 students will attend on Tuesday, January 19 and Wednesday, January 20.
Group 2 students will attend on Thursday, January 21 and Friday, January 22. Please see the chart at the end of this letter for
further clarification. If you are a parent who chose virtual school, your child will continue to have the option of virtual school.
January 22 is the end of the second marking period, and students and families are reminded to have all work submitted by this
date. Report cards will be distributed on January 29.
We can all agree that there is no substitute for in-person learning, and we all want the students back in the classrooms fulltime as soon as safely possible. We have 2,300 students, 314 full time employees and over 200 additional substitutes,
coaches and other part-time staff. We understand that everyone has parents, grandparents, and other family members that
they are concerned about, and we take our responsibility for safety very seriously.
Throughout this pandemic, we have always worked to do what we feel is best regarding students, staff and the community.
We will continue to listen to feedback, investigate data, read the research and consult with our local health experts to make
wise decisions for our return to school.
Thank you for your support. As a community, we are strong, and we can get through this pandemic together.
Sincerely,
Kristen Tuttle
Superintendent

Morgan County Schools

Letter to Parents