UPDATE: Posted at 10:00 p.m.

In response to Gov. Roy Cooper's executive order closing all public schools in the state for at least two weeks effective Monday, March 16, LCPS has designated Monday as a required teacher workday. Schools will be open for students and parents to recover any educational or personal items that they may need during the time our schools are closed. Monday also will be an opportunity for parents and students to pick up any school-issued iPads that they might not have already. More information on school access Monday will be provided Sunday afternoon.

District and school administrators, the district's curriculum team and school Digital Learning Specialists have been working for several days on a framework for instructional support that employs LCPS's extensive digital resources. That plan for online learning is now being refined and will be relayed to parents as soon as possible. Because many of our students depend on meals they receive at school to meet nutritional requirements, LCPS plans to open feeding sites at select locations around the county. Specific information about that child nutrition program will be provided as soon as possible.

ORIGINAL: Posted at 8:30 p.m.

Good evening. This is Brent Williams, superintendent of Lenoir County Public Schools calling with important information about school. This afternoon, Governor Roy Cooper announced that by Executive Order in collaboration with the State Board of Education, he is closing all public schools in North Carolina immediately for a period of at least two weeks in response to concerns about the possible statewide spread of the COVID-19 virus. Therefore, Lenoir County Public Schools will be closed beginning Monday, March 16 through at least Friday, March 27. 

Monday, March 16, 2020 has been designated as a statewide teacher and staff workday. In preparation for such a possibility of missed school days related to this crisis, LCPS staff members have been working hard to create a range of online and traditional print-version supplemental resources and activities that will help students remain engaged in learning while the schools are closed. We are working now to complete those plans. Plans will be shared with you as soon as possible on how to access the various learning opportunities during this or even a more extended closure. 

It is possible that the closure may extend longer than two weeks as this is a rapidly changing situation.  We are in constant contact with our county and state health and emergency management officials.  Please know that all decisions are made with the best information we have at that time.

We appreciate your support, patience, and cooperation during this difficult time. Have a great evening!