YORK COUNTY, Va. — The superintendent for York County Public Schools is releasing details on the school division's plans to get Grafton High School and Grafton Middle School students back in class, following a fire at their building complex earlier in the week.
The resulting schedule means Grafton students will have to split days sharing campuses with two other schools, York High School and Tabb Middle School, which will impact York and Tabb students' schedules.
All Grafton students will have to attend class for 10 Saturdays. Parent Tiffany Hansler explained this will change their schedules but her daughter needs her education.
"It’s important that the kids get their schedule and go to school and it’s the best situation they could have came up with," said Hansler.
The extraordinary measures follow an electrical fire at the Grafton Complex on Monday. School officials say that even though the fire was contained to the electrical room, it destroyed their main electrical distribution panel, which left the entire building without power.
RELATED: Officials: Restoring power to Grafton school complex could take months after electrical fire
School Superintendent Vicor Shandor sent out a letter on Friday, detailing full instructions and schedules for students at Grafton, York, and Tabb.
The letter is reproduced below in full:
Grafton Complex Status Reports
Friday, February 7
Letter from the Superintendent
Good afternoon,
I am writing to share the details of the York County School Division’s plan for returning Grafton High School and Grafton Middle School students to class next week, with the first day of class for these students being Tuesday, February 11. The new school schedule, which is necessary due to Monday’s electrical fire at the Grafton Complex, will require the use of two other division campuses - York High and Tabb Middle.
Recognizing the impact that this plan has on our students, staff and families, we will hold two public forums tomorrow, Saturday, February 8 to answer questions. The locations and times are available below.
Grafton High School will alternate school days with York High School at the YHS campus, while Grafton Middle School will alternate school days with Tabb Middle School at the TMS campus.
- All Grafton Complex students will attend school on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well as 10 Saturdays.
- York High and Tabb Middle students will attend school Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
- This alternating schedule has been adopted to remain in place through Friday, May 22 and currently protects Presidents’ Day weekend, spring break (including the surrounding weekends), and Memorial Day weekend.
School hours and bell schedules for these four schools have also been adjusted as part of this instructional plan -- including a change from the A/B block rotation to a 7-period or 8-period day depending on school level. The attached calendars provide the specific dates and new school hours for each school. Students will receive their new daily bell schedules next week.
Adjusted School Calendars
Additionally, information regarding how this schedule affects transportation, special education programs housed at the Grafton Complex, and instructional programs such as the Governor’s School, New Horizons, SOA, and NJROTC, will be provided as soon as possible.
We have been in constant communication with state education officials regarding this plan and it is likely we will have to make some adjustments. Over the next week, the division will develop plans for incorporating blended learning opportunities and instructional support for students on the days they are not in school. *Blended learning may also provide the ability to reduce the number of Saturday school days scheduled.*
While we recognize that this plan may not be ideal for all families, this option best aligns with the division’s criteria for meeting the needs of all students with the resources available. We will share those details during the information sessions tomorrow.
Public Forums
Saturday, February 8, 2020
1 p.m. - York High School
4 p.m. - Tabb High School
Each session is open to all families. If you are not able to attend either session, you can provide questions in advance through email at askYCSD@ycsd.york.va.us. Information from these sessions will also be posted on the division website and Facebook page.
I want to personally thank you again for your patience and support as we navigate this situation. This crisis will provide a great opportunity to come together as a community and to show our students how to handle adversity.
Sincerely,
Victor Shandor, Ed.D.
Division Superintendent