School opening and sports schedule news

Governor McMaster’s news conference was followed today by Oconee public school officials.  The governor wants school districts to offer five-day-a-week, face-to-face instruction, as well  give families the option for their children to take distance learning. That jibes with what Oconee district officials are planning.  But there is a difference. McMaster believes districts should consider starting after Labor Day, to give additional time for COVID-19 cases to decrease.  This causes Oconee “to think a little bit”–as Superintendent Thorsland said, noting that Oconee has previously set an August 10 start date for the new school year.  In a separate setting, the South Carolina High School League took up the issue of whether to play fall sports on time or on a delay.  Steve Hanvey, associate superintendent, followed part of the High School League meeting and reports that the league’s thinking is to push back football schedules to September 1, and make that night the date for the season openers.