Bladen County Schools has another go to remote learning due to the virus

ELIZABETHTOWN — Students at Elizabethtown Middle School will be in remote learning on Thursday, in addition to the previously announced Friday.

The Bladen County Schools district office, in a release, said the move was “due to the availability of staff as a result of COVID-19 cases and exposures.” Materials pick-up can be arranged with the school.

All schools are in remote learning Friday due to the forecast for bad weather.

Earlier this week, three schools in remote learning when last week ended went back in person and restrictions on high school athletics were lifted.

Elizabethtown Primary School went to remote learning for the entire week before classes resumed Tuesday following the holiday weekend. West Bladen and East Bladen high schools, and Bladen Lakes Primary School used remote learning last week but were back in facilities this week.

Fans returned to basketball games for the Knights and Eagles programs this week. Last week, the number of people allowed in was restricted. All people entering the facilities of Bladen County Schools do have to adhere to the face covering policy enacted last week by the Board of Education.

In Tuesday’s report on outbreaks and clusters from the state Department of Health and Human Services, the following Bladen County Schools were included:

• Bladenboro Primary, three staff, nine children.

• West Bladen High, no staff, 14 children.

• East Bladen High, one staff, 13 children.

• Elizabethtown Primary, one staff, five children.

The state defines clusters as five or more at child care facilities or schools, and outbreaks as two or more cases at congregate living settings. Numbers are cumulative from varying points and do not indicate active.