Trending
CHARLESTON -- Schools across West Virginia will remain physically closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year to continue slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, the governor announced on Tuesday.
"I hate this like crazy," Gov. Jim Justice said during his daily coronavirus briefing at the Capitol. "I have promised you over and over and over that I would not put you in a position that could be harmful, and I would try to protect you in every way, especially our kids...the last thing I would do is put our kids in harm's way."
Justice said distance learning and feeding programs would continue, but opening school buildings this year will not happen. Schools have been closed since March 13 and were slated to re-open April 30.
"I've thought really hard and I've tried in every way to hopefully be able to go back to school, because I know how much the kids would appreciate it. I can't imagine the excitement of the kids going back and seeing their friends, their teachers, and all the goodness that would come of that. The ability to bring closure to that has really puzzled our kids in a lot of different ways."
Clayton Burch, acting state superintendent of schools, said Tuesday the decision to keep schools closed was not lightly taken. According to Education Week, West Virginia joins 34 other states who have closed schools for the remainder of the school year.
West Virginia's decision follows the closure announced by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday.
"We came to the realization that it was going to be really tough. Decisions of that magnitude are really, really difficult to make," Burch said.