High Point takes next step toward full-time schedule

High Point Regional High School is expected to begin its new four-day per week schedule for those who asked for one.

In a Jan. 25 letter to the community, Superintendent Scott Ripley said the school was honoring the requests of about 200 parents who prefer having their children in school four days per week. Students will be in school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Ripley said about 300 to 340 students were expected to attend school in person, fewer than the original plan of 430 students. Classrooms are seating students in a socially distant manner.

“We believe by giving the choice for people and still having less than we prepared for, we’re excited that families can send their children four days per week if they so choose,” Ripley said at the Jan. 26 school board meeting.

Ripley said the district is not ready to handle lunch periods yet, and that officials are moving incrementally toward full days and lunch periods.

“We’re becoming increasingly aware of the need to take care of our students’ mental well-being, even more than their physical well-being,” Ripley said.

The High Point Education Association president, Carla Mancuso, said she was concerned about mixing the cohorts, and that Ripley met with her and Ben Kappler to discuss the issue. She said most of their questions were answered and felt they were all moving in the right direction.

“I came away from that meeting with a greater understanding of how the whole team is in this together,” Mancuso said.

She did ask that the original reopening plan be resubmitted to Sussex County.

Ripley said that was done immediately after the meeting, and that the county acknowledged receipt.

“This is a horrible thing for our students to have to endure,” he said.