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Cumberland County Public Schools (CuCPS) will begin the school year with distance-only learning for the first nine weeks.

In a letter distributed to families Wednesday, July 22, CuCPS Superintendent Dr. Chip Jones said after monitoring numerous data points regarding the novel coronavirus, the school division learned the most recent local statistics show an increase in the number of cases, including in children.

Jones said the surrounding area has seen increased COVID-19 cases in facilities where many local families and community members are employed.

In order to mitigate community spread, Jones said, CuCPS will now open remotely Aug. 10 for all students for the first nine weeks of school, scheduled to end Oct. 13.

He added CuCPS will continue to evaluate the status of the coronavirus during the first nine weeks of school to determine if in-person learning will resume after Oct. 13.

“While this may create additional hardships for families, safety for all must be the top priority,” Jones said Wednesday.  “With students being our top priority, we must create a safe environment for them to learn, as well as for our staff and the community.”

Jones highlighted families will be receiving updated guidance from school administration regarding the structure of remote learning, and the school’s FAQ webpage will be updated in the near future to reflect these changes. He added students will still have continued access to meals during this time.