Removal of Mask Mandate

Horry County Schools (HCS) and other schools and districts throughout South Carolina have recently received conflicting directives related to COVID-19 safety protocols:

• On May 12, the South Carolina Department of Education issued the following statement: 

Rather than wage a debate over constitutionality that would pit elected officials,  students, and families against one another, Superintendent Spearman has, effective immediately, rescinded the state face covering policy with the exception of the school bus requirement that is now required by the federal government....Superintendent Spearman and the SCDE continue to urge schools and districts to follow DHEC’s public health guidance as they have throughout the pandemic.

• On May 11, Governor McMaster issued an Executive Order, which has the effect of law, to provide a mask opt-out process for families, in conflict with pandemic recommendations from SCDHEC, the CDC, and local/state medical health systems.

As noted in the Order, face covering requirements as they relate to students and staff on school buses have not changed as a result of President’s Executive Order No. 13998 (Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel) (Jan. 21, 2021); CDC Order Under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 264) and 42 C.F.R. §§ 70.2, 71.31(b), 71.32(b) (Requirement for Persons to Wear Masks While on Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs) (Jan. 29, 2021).

• On April 28, the Governor signed into law the General Assembly’s SC COVID-19 Liability Immunity Act that provides protection from liability for entities that follow SCDHEC protocols and guidelines.

After a thorough review of Executive Order 2021-23 by our General Counsel, we are prepared to move forward with our best good-faith effort to reconcile these conflicting directives.

SCDHEC Face Mask Opt-Out Form

SCDHEC Face Mask Opt-Out Form (Spanish)

In order for the opt-out procedure to take effect as soon as possible, schools will accept signed/completed paper copies of the SCDHEC opt-out forms starting tomorrow, Thursday, May 13, 2021, from parents (or students over the age of 18). 

 
Parents Concerned About Removal of Mask Mandate

Students whose families do not want their children to attend school due to these changes will not be moved into the K-12 HCS Virtual Program at this point.  At this point in the semester, we do not have enough time for the transition of either grades or instructors.  

Because we can no longer maintain recommended protocols, we will allow parents to opt for their students to work independently from home for the remainder of this year; however, the student’s work will be assigned and submitted through Google Classroom or SeeSaw. Parents must submit a request to the principal in writing (email or hard copy) by Monday, May 17, 2021. All parents who choose this option are committing their student to work independently from home for the remainder of the school year.

Schools will record attendance for those students as administratively excused absences as long as work is completed.  Regular final exams for these students will be delivered via Google Classroom. State-required assessments cannot be taken remotely, so all state-required assessments must be administered in school settings with six feet of social distancing. Students whose parents do not feel that it is safe for them to report to their brick-and-mortar school to complete a state-required assessment will not be penalized.

Consequences to Student Seating

The seating of students within a classroom less than six feet apart is allowed by DHEC when students wear a mask and are separated by plexiglass dividers. However, the removal of the mask mandate negates this SCDHEC option. Therefore, a student who is not wearing a mask and who is within six feet of a student who tests positive for COVID-19 will be subject to a 10-day quarantine per SCDHEC requirements.

HCS Employees

As a result of the below May 12th statement issued by SCDE, HCS employees, with the exception of bus drivers while performing their driving duties, will not be required to wear face coverings effective immediately:

Rather than wage a debate over constitutionality that would pit elected officials,    students, and families against one another, Superintendent Spearman has, effective immediately, rescinded the state face covering policy with the exception of the school bus requirement that is now required by the federal government.

As we receive more or new information regarding employees, we will share with employees as soon as possible.

HCS Health Recommendations

Even though these changes in COVID-19 mitigation efforts have been directed by state authorities, HCS encourages students and employees to continue with SCDHEC guidance to include maintaining social distancing, hand sanitizing, and the wearing of face coverings. 

DHEC and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have provided guidance stating that the wearing of face coverings slows the spread of COVID-19. Failure to wear a face covering may subject a student or employee to an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 and spreading COVID-19 to others.

 

 

Earlier tonight, all South Carolina school superintendents received the following statement from the South Carolina Department of Education in response to Governor McMaster’s announcement that parents will be allowed to choose whether their children wear masks in a public school setting.

“This evening Governor McMaster issued Executive Order 2021-23, attached, that has language pertaining to the use of face coverings in South Carolina public schools. Due to the lateness of the Order, the legal ambiguities, and the absence of a DHEC opt out form, the state face covering guidelines will remain in effect until such time as the agency has the opportunity to confer with legal counsel and provide further guidance.

 As noted in the Order, face covering requirements as they relate to students and staff on school buses have not changed as a result of President’s Executive Order No. 13998 (Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel) (Jan. 21, 2021); CDC Order Under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 264) and 42 C.F.R. §§ 70.2, 71.31(b), 71.32(b) (Requirement for Persons to Wear Masks While on Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs) (Jan. 29, 2021).”

 Governor McMasters’ spokesperson, Brian Symmes, said tonight that existing rules requiring students to wear masks may remain in place until the form for parents is developed. "The governor expects it to be done very quickly," Symmes said. "Whether there's a month left in the school year or it's the beginning of the school year, he doesn't care," Symmes said. "He fundamentally believes that that's a decision that should be left up to the parents." 

 Accordingly, Horry County Schools mask requirement for students will remain in place for all school buildings and buses until the parent opt-out form is developed by the state.

PDF Attachment

 

Released April 22, 2021

With the anticipation of South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signing the resolution requiring all South Carolina schools to offer in-person classes to students five days a week starting April 26, the SOAR Academy will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction on Monday, April 26, one day earlier than previously announced.

As of Monday, April 26, ALL Horry County Schools will participate in 5-days of face-to-face instruction. Like many school districts in South Carolina, HCS has been working expeditiously to install plexiglass in our schools. As per the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) recommendations, this will allow student spacing of three feet apart. This additional mitigation effort will allow us to safely bring more students back into the classroom and increase our face-to-face instruction from 2 days per week to 5 days per week. While plexiglass will reduce social distancing requirements in the classroom from six to three feet, masks/face coverings will be required in all school areas.

Released April 21, 2021

HCS is pleased to announce that the last remaining program school will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction. The decision for brick-and-mortar schools to return to 5 days of face-to-face instruction does not affect the K-12 HCS Virtual Program.

Beginning on Tuesday, April 27, the following program school will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction:

• SOAR Academy

As of Tuesday, April 27, ALL Horry County Schools will participate in 5-days of face-to-face instruction. Like many school districts in South Carolina, HCS has been working expeditiously to install plexiglass in our schools. As per the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) recommendations, this will allow student spacing of three feet apart. This additional mitigation effort will allow us to safely bring more students back into the classroom and increase our face-to-face instruction from 2 days per week to 5 days per week. While plexiglass will reduce social distancing requirements in the classroom from six to three feet, masks/face coverings will be required in all school areas.

Released April 20, 2021

HCS is pleased to announce that the last remaining high school will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction. The decision for brick-and-mortar schools to return to 5 days of face-to-face instruction does not affect the K-12 HCS Virtual Program.

Beginning on Monday, April 26, the following high school and program school will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction:

• Socastee High School

Like many school districts in South Carolina, HCS has been working expeditiously to install plexiglass in our schools. As per the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) recommendations, this will allow student spacing of three feet apart. This additional mitigation effort will allow us to safely bring more students back into the classroom and increase our face-to-face instruction from 2 days per week to 5 days per week. While plexiglass will reduce social distancing requirements in the classroom from six to three feet, masks/face coverings will be required in all school areas.

 

Released April 13, 2021

Parents of students who will be enrolled in Horry County Schools for the 2021-22 school year will have the opportunity to commit for their students to participate in the K-12 HCS Virtual program. On April 19th, parents of current HCS students will receive an email offering the option for their students to commit to the K-12 HCS Virtual program for the 2021-22 school year.  If you do not receive the email on April 19th, please contact your school to verify that your email address is correct.

If you want your student to attend his/her brick-and-mortar school for the 2021-22 school year, you may disregard the email you receive on April 19th. 

Prior to making a commitment for your student(s) to attend the K-12 HCS Virtual program, we recommend learning more about this program by visiting the following link: https://www.horrycountyschools.net/Page/12440.  You may also want to speak with your child’s teachers, guidance counselor, or school administration. 

All commitments to attend the K-12 HCS Virtual program are final. Once you have submitted a commitment to attend the K-12 HCS Virtual program for the 2021-22 school year, you will not be able to change your decision, as there will be no other opportunities to select a different instructional setting for the first semester of the 2021-22 school year. 

Released March 25, 2021

Now that all elementary and middle schools provide 5-day, face-to-face instruction, HCS is phasing the return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction in our high schools and program schools. Staff and parents will receive at the minimum a 5-day calendar notice of this change. The decision for brick-and-mortar schools to return to 5 days of face-to-face instruction does not affect the K-12 HCS Virtual Program. If students are currently enrolled in the K-12 HCS Virtual Program, this message does not impact them.

Beginning on Thursday, April 1, the following high schools will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction: 

• Myrtle Beach High School
• St. James High School

Our goal for completion of plexiglass installation for all high schools is the end of March. Like many school districts in South Carolina, HCS has been working expeditiously to install plexiglass in our schools. As per South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) recommendations, this will allow student spacing of three feet apart. This additional mitigation effort will allow us to safely bring more students back into the classroom and increase our face-to-face instruction from 2 days per week to 5 days per week. While plexiglass will reduce social distancing requirements in the classroom from six to three feet, masks/face coverings will be required in all school areas.

Released March 23, 2021

Now that all elementary and middle schools provide 5-day, face-to-face instruction, HCS is phasing the return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction in our high schools and program schools. Staff and parents will receive at the minimum a 5-day calendar notice of this change. The decision for brick-and-mortar schools to return to 5 days of face-to-face instruction does not affect the K-12 HCS Virtual Program. If students are currently enrolled in the K-12 HCS Virtual Program, this message does not impact them. 

Beginning on Tuesday, March 30, the following high schools will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction:

• Aynor High School
• Conway High School

Our goal for completion of plexiglass installation for all high schools is the end of March. Like many school districts in South Carolina, HCS has been working expeditiously to install plexiglass in our schools. As per South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) recommendations, this will allow student spacing of three feet apart. This additional mitigation effort will allow us to safely bring more students back into the classroom and increase our face-to-face instruction from 2 days per week to 5 days per week. While plexiglass will reduce social distancing requirements in the classroom from six to three feet, masks/face coverings will be required in all school areas.

Released March 19, 2021

Now that all elementary and middle schools provide 5-day, face-to-face instruction, HCS will continue phasing the return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction in our middle schools and then high schools. You will receive at the minimum a 5-day calendar notice of this change. The decision for brick-and-mortar schools to return to 5 days of face-to-face instruction does not affect the K-12 HCS Virtual Program. If students are currently enrolled in the K-12 HCS Virtual Program, this message does not impact the student.

Beginning on Friday, March 26, the following program school will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction:

• 
    Academy for Technology & Academics (ATA)

Our goal for completion of plexiglass installation for all high schools is the end of March. Like many school districts in South Carolina, HCS has been working expeditiously to install plexiglass in our schools. As per South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) recommendations, this will allow student spacing of three feet apart. This additional mitigation effort will allow us to safely bring more students back into the classroom and increase our face-to-face instruction from 2 days per week to 5 days per week. While plexiglass will reduce social distancing requirements in the classroom from six to three feet, masks/face coverings will be required in all school areas.

Released: March 12, 2021

School Meal Service for Virtual Students

As HCS transitions to the return of five days of face-to-face instruction, daily curbside pick-up meals will no longer be available beginning on Monday, March 15, 2021.

Horry County Schools Nutrition Services is transitioning to providing meal kits for HCS Virtual students at select schools on Fridays from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Meal kits will contain five breakfast meals and five lunch meals.

Meal kits will need to be preordered by noon on Wednesday of each week. Please contact the cafeteria manager at the school where you would like to pick-up your meal kit. (Locations and cafeteria managers are listed below.) Meal kits will be available for pick-up at the exact curbside location as used previously for daily meals.

 

Available Pickup Locations:

Aynor High
Cafeteria Manager - Nellie Smalls  (843) 488-7118

Green Sea Floyds Elementary
Cafeteria Manager - Randy Skipper  (843) 392-1095

Loris Middle
Cafeteria Manager - Sabrina Wilson  (843) 756-0912

Myrtle Beach Middle
Cafeteria Manager - Jermaine Wilson  (843) 839-7130

North Myrtle Beach Middle
Cafeteria Manager - Angela Long  (843) 399-3650

St. James Middle
Cafeteria Manager - Tarsha Bryant  (843) 650-5546

Socastee High
Cafeteria Manager - Kim Bennett  (843) 293-6488

Ten Oaks Middle
Cafeteria Manager - Margie Crane  (843) 488-8973

Whittemore Park Middle
Cafeteria Manager - Saundra Zeman  (843) 488-0663

Released March 10, 2021

Now that all elementary and middle schools provide 5-day, face-to-face instruction, HCS will continue phasing the return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction in our middle schools and then high schools. You will receive at the minimum a 5-day calendar notice of this change.

The decision for brick-and-mortar schools to return to 5 days of face-to-face instruction does not affect the K-12 HCS Virtual Program. If a child is currently enrolled in the K-12 HCS Virtual Program, this message does not impact the student.

Beginning on Wednesday, March 17, the following high school will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction:

• Loris High School

This announcement completes the return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction for the entire Green Sea Floyds, North Myrtle Beach, and Loris attendance areas and most of our program schools. Our goal for completion of plexiglass installation for all high schools is the end of March.

Like many school districts in South Carolina, HCS has been working expeditiously to install plexiglass in our schools. As per South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) recommendations, this will allow student spacing of three feet apart. This additional mitigation effort will allow us to safely bring more students back into the classroom and increase our face-to-face instruction from 2 days per week to 5 days per week. While plexiglass will reduce social distancing requirements in the classroom from six to three feet, masks/face coverings will be required in all school areas.

Now that all elementary and middle schools provide 5-day, face-to-face instruction, HCS will continue phasing the return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction in our middle schools and then high schools. You will receive at the minimum a 5-day calendar notice of this change.

The decision for brick-and-mortar schools to return to 5 days of face-to-face instruction does not affect the K-12 HCS Virtual Program. If a child is currently enrolled in the K-12 HCS Virtual Program, this message does not impact the student.

Beginning on Tuesday, March 16, the following high schools and program schools will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction:

• Early College High School
• North Myrtle Beach High School
• Scholars Academy
• Academy for the Arts, Science & Technology (AAST)

This announcement completes the return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction for the entire North Myrtle Beach attendance area and most of our program schools. Our goal for completion of plexiglass installation for all high schools is the end of March.

Like many school districts in South Carolina, HCS has been working expeditiously to install plexiglass in our schools. As per South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) recommendations, this will allow student spacing of three feet apart. This additional mitigation effort will allow us to safely bring more students back into the classroom and increase our face-to-face instruction from 2 days per week to 5 days per week. While plexiglass will reduce social distancing requirements in the classroom from six to three feet, masks/face coverings will be required in all school areas.

Released February 25, 2021

Now that all elementary schools provide 5-day, face-to-face instruction, HCS will continue phasing the return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction in our middle schools and then high schools. You will receive at the minimum a 5-day calendar notice of this change.

The decision for brick-and-mortar schools to return to 5 days of face-to-face instruction does not affect the K-12 HCS Virtual Program. If your child is currently enrolled in the K-12 HCS Virtual Program, this message does not impact you.

Beginning on Thursday, March 4, the following middle schools will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction:

· Aynor Middle
· Conway Middle
· Loris Middle
· Whittemore Park Middle

Like many school districts in South Carolina, HCS has been working expeditiously to install plexiglass in our schools. As per South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) recommendations, this will allow student spacing of three feet apart. This additional mitigation effort will allow us to safely bring more students back into the classroom and increase our face-to-face instruction from 2 days per week to 5 days per week. While plexiglass will reduce social distancing requirements in the classroom from six to three feet, masks/face coverings will be required in all school areas.

HCS will continue to provide an updated timeline on the plexiglass installation and the dates that individual schools will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction. Our goal for completion of plexiglass installation for all schools is mid-March.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to return students to face-to-face instruction.

Now that all elementary schools provide 5-day, face-to-face instruction, HCS will begin phasing the return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction in our middle schools and then high schools. You will receive at the minimum a 5-day calendar notice of this change.

The decision for brick-and-mortar schools to return to 5 days of face-to-face instruction does not affect the K-12 HCS Virtual Program. If your child is currently enrolled in the K-12 HCS Virtual Program, this message does not impact you.

Beginning on Thursday, February 25, the following middle schools will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction:

· Myrtle Beach Middle
· Socastee Middle
· Forestbrook Middle

Like all school districts in South Carolina, HCS has been working expeditiously to install plexiglass in our schools. As per South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) recommendations, the plexiglass will allow student spacing of three feet apart. This additional mitigation effort will allow us to safely bring more students back into the classroom and increase our face-to-face instruction from 2 days per week to 5 days per week. While plexiglass will reduce social distancing requirements in the classroom from six to three feet, masks/face coverings will be required in all school areas.

HCS will continue to provide an updated timeline on the plexiglass installation and the dates that individual schools will return to 5-day, face-to-face instruction. Our goal for completion of plexiglass installation for all schools is mid-March.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to return students to face-to-face instruction.

Released December 21, 2020

In reviewing COVID-19 case data for HCS following student holidays, both current positive cases and staff quarantines rose following breaks. Following the Thanksgiving holiday, HCS experienced an increase in COVID-19 positive cases that were dispersed around the District, as well as an increase in the number of staff members placed in quarantine.  Though staff quarantines do not mean that individuals placed in quarantine have COVID-19, this safety measure for employees identified as close contacts of a positive case may impact a brick-and-mortar school’s ability to conduct face-to-face classes. Further complicating matters, from December 23, 2020 - January 3, 2021, HCS will not be able to track and record COVID-19 case data as accurately as we would under normal operations.

Given these two factors, a projected rise in COVID-19 cases following the extended holiday break period, and the inability to accurately track data with school not in session, as a safety precaution,  HCS will operate for the weeks of January 4th - January 8th, and January 11th - January 15th, 2021, on a full-time distance learning model.

During the course of these two weeks of full-time distance learning, school facilities will be closed, and no students will be in the school buildings. All teachers will provide instruction to students through the virtual environment. 

Athletic events previously scheduled over the holiday break will continue; however, the District’s Health and Safety Services Department will continue to monitor teams and should COVID-19 issues arise, individual athletes and/or entire teams may be quarantined. A decision regarding all regularly scheduled athletic and extra-curricular activities for the first two weeks of January will be made and communicated near the end of winter break based upon data available at that time.

Released October 20, 2020

On Monday, October 19, 2020, the Horry County Board of Education voted for the implementation of the hybrid instructional model for all District brick-and-mortar schools, effective October 19, 2020, until the District is able to return all brick-and-mortar schools safely to five-day, face-to-face instruction.

A minimum of five calendar days' notice will be sent to parents before a change in the instructional model is implemented unless an emergency at an individual brick-and-mortar school warrants an immediate change of that individual brick-and-mortar school's schedule.

• View the Superintendent's Presentation from the October 19, 2020, Board Meeting.
  
  

View the Board Meeting Video

Released August 31, 2020

Today, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control released the highly anticipated COVID-19 statistics for Horry County. This weekly disease activity report currently rates Horry County at a medium spread level. This means that Horry County Schools will begin the first day of school on September 8, 2020, with the Instructional Model.  Student schedules will be available in PowerSchool on Wednesday, September 2^nd, no later than 5 P.M.  Students enrolled in brick-and-mortar schools will also learn their scheduled groups as well. 

• Students in Groups A and G will begin in-person instruction on Tuesday, September 8th. 
• Students in Group B will begin in-person instruction on Wednesday, September 9th.

While students enrolled in the K-12 HCS Virtual School will not be attending the brick-and-mortar schools in person, their schedules will indicate they are in Group E.

We are excited to welcome our students back both to our school buildings and to our virtual classrooms. Enjoy the last few days of your summer break and know that we look forward to beginning the new school year with you on September 8th.

*Students in Group G are special populations that have been identified as needing additional instructional support.

Released August 4, 2020

The Horry County Board of Education met on August 4, 2020. 

• View the general Re-Opening presentation
• View the differences between eLearning, Distance Learning, and the  K-12 HCS Virtual Program

The Board approved the HCS Re-Opening Plan, which will now be submitted to the South Carolina Department of Education for review and final approval.

Released July 13, 2020

The Board of Education met on July 13, 2020,  and approved a REVISED student calendar for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. The new start date of Tuesday, September 8, 2020, will allow the school district additional time to make the necessary adjustments and preparations needed for a safe return for all stakeholders.

Released June 25, 2020

Each summer, immediately following graduation ceremonies, Horry County Schools (HCS) launches fully into preparations for the next school year. However, due to COVID-19, our preparations will be different this summer.  Because of the many variables impacting returning to school in a pandemic, an HCS Re-opening Task Force was formed, and several sub-committees were created to identify issues and to make plans that will address pandemic concerns that may impact our schools’ operations.  Subcommittees composed of principals, teachers, parents, and students, along with district staff members, are considering the following areas: Public Health & Safety, School Operations & Logistics, Teaching & Learning, Equity & Family Needs, and Social-emotional Health. 

To aid in developing a comprehensive plan, HCS has emailed parents a survey that seeks thoughts about how instruction/campuses should look when schools re-open in the fall. Click here to view a copy of the survey. This survey will inform the HCS Re-opening Task Force about parent preferences and expectations given the restrictions which may be in place next year, either at the time our schools re-open or at any time during the academic year.

In closing, we know that school will look very different next year, but our goal is to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for all stakeholders in the most effective way possible. More updates will be released throughout the summer as additional re-opening plans are finalized.

If you did not receive a copy of the survey please email hcsinfo@horrycountyschools.net. Please include your name, students' name, grade, and the school they will be attending. 

---

A Pathway for Back2School: Special Segment

View the special, hour-long segment as district leaders discuss our Pathway for Back2School.