Gov. Cooper issues executive order closing all N.C. public schools for two weeks

[Photo courtesy North Carolina Department of Public Instruction]

Gov. Roy Cooper on Saturday issued an executive order closing all K-12 public schools in North Carolina for at least two weeks as the coronavirus continues to spread through the state.

“Many parents are choosing to keep their children home from school,” he said during a Saturday afternoon press conference. “We need a statewide response and statewide action.”

Cooper said he knows the order will be difficult for many parents and students, particularly hourly-wage earning parents and children who get most of their meals at school.

“We are working on efforts to deal with those challenges,” the governor said. “Hindsight is 20/20, I don’t want any regrets in our rear view mirror.”

Dare County school officials have been planning for and will implement distance learning plans which will begin next week for grades kindergarten through 12th grade. Detailed information on the remote learning plans and next steps will be announced by 2 p.m. Sunday.

The executive order also prohibits gatherings of more than 100 people anywhere in the state. This does not apply to shopping centers, stores and restaurants, but the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services said people should practice social distancing and try to remain six-feet away from others.

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Kari Pugh is digital director for OBXToday.com, Beach 104, 99.1 The Sound, 94.5 WCMS and News Talk 92.3 WZPR. Reach her at kpugh@jammediallc.com