WCSD to Purchase Student Supplies

The back-to-school aisle at Warren’s Walmart will be a little less crowded this year.

The Warren County School District announced on its Facebook page Thursday, Aug. 13, it would be providing school supplies for all students for the 2020-2021 school year.

“The Warren County School District has made the decision to provide students with their school supplies for the 2020-21 school year,” the post reads. “This has been done in an effort to reduce the stress of the back-to-school season while in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In a typical year, parents would get supply lists from their respective schools prior to the start of the school year.

But 2020 has been anything but a typical year.

Due to the pandemic, the WCSD opted to provide parents with three options for the return to school. Option 1 is traditional brick-and-mortar learning, Option 2 is enrollment in the district’s Virtual Academy and Option 3 is a blend between online and in-person learning. The district sent letters to each family asking for their preference.

At the Aug. 10 meeting of the WCSD Board of Directors, Superintendent Amy Stewart said about 80 percent of district families had responded. The numbers show nearly 3/4 (73 percent) of families will be sending their students back to the school buildings, 15 percent have opted for the Virtual Academy with 12 percent choosing the blended option.

Parents may call their child’s school if they have any questions about school supplies.

The district also announced pick-up times for Virtual Academy materials Thursday. Those pick-ups will be at the districts offices in the former Russell Elementary School building on Route 62. No appointment is necessary and parents may pick up packets on the following dates and times: