Governor’s Back-to-School Press Conference Receives Mixed Reactions

The response to Governor McMaster’s back-to-school press conference has been extremely mixed. On one hand, numerous parents are more than relieved to have the option to send their children back to 5-day in-person class instruction. One single mother from Horry County in particular said without the option, she would be forced to move back to where she has “family support”. However, many teachers feel the governor has overlooked them. A recent survey conducted in South Carolina suggests a large number of teachers have underlying health conditions and are extremely concerned about contracting COVID-19. SC for ED has also expressed opposition over the face-to-face instruction mandate and released an official statement asking districts to prioritize student and staff safety.