NC House Member Karl Gillespie on Bill Allowing NC Students to Return to School

NC Senate Bill 37, having passes the NC Senate and also passed by the NC House after minor adjustments, will next go to the NC Senate for approval, then (if it passes) to the Governor to be signed into law.

The Macon County Board of Education recently held a special called meeting to address the bill. A [ress release from NC House Member Karl Gillespie is posted below. [LINK]



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PRESS RELEASE BY NC HOUSE MEMBER KARL GILLESPIE

State House Passes Bill Allowing Students to Return to School

Raleigh, NC – On Thursday, February 11, 2021, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 37 entitled, In-Person Learning Choice for Families. The bill would provide access to in-person learning for students in grades kindergarten through twelve.

“Republicans, Democrats, Governor Cooper, the CDC, and the President of the United States all agree: it is time to get our students back in the classroom,” stated Representative Gillespie. “With the passage of Senate Bill 37, parents will now have the option of returning their children to in-person learning. The bill does not mandate that students return to school, rather it simply requires school districts offer the option of in-person learning, thereby allowing parents to determine what they think is best for their child.”

On February 4, 2021, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 36 which provides $1.6 billion to assist schools in reopening safely. For Representative Gillespie’s district, the following Local Education Agency allotments are estimated as follows:

•Cherokee County Schools: $3,581,720 

•Clay County Schools: $1,312,626 

•Graham County Schools: $1,252,350 

•Macon County Schools: $4,672,288

The federal government directed that the funds be distributed among the LEAs based on their headcount of students under Title I (A) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.