Almost 300 households dotted in rural and remote areas of Roanoke County are gaining access to high-speed internet service while construction nears completion on $880,000 of infrastructure improvements.
Federal coronavirus relief funding paid for the Roanoke County broadband expansion projects in its Vinton, Catawba, Cave Spring and Windsor Hills districts.
Under a county contract, Cox Communications expanded its fiber-optic and coaxial cable networks, connecting internet to as many as 90 homes in the Cave Spring and Windsor Hills districts.
Residents along Ridgelea Estates Drive, Lost View Lane and Lost Drive are now connected, along with people on unserved parts of Merriman, Franklin and Webb roads, said Bill Hunter, director of communications and information technology for Roanoke County.
Limited space in school buildings and maintaining physical distancing between students is one of the complications in bringing more students back to school five days a week.
Local superintendents react to Governor Northam’s push to return to the classroom
Some districts have maxed out in-person capacity, while others remain 100% virtual
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ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – A major factor in fully reopening Virginia schools is COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
As Governor Ralph Northam laid out his expectations for reopening schools across the state, some superintendents were left with questions.
“Is there any room to re-look at the mitigation efforts we have in place such as the six-foot physical distancing?” said Roanoke County Public Schools superintendent Dr. Ken Nicely. “That is the biggest barrier to having more students come into the school.”
Fourth-grade students on the hybrid schedule will return to in-person instruction five days a week beginning Jan. 25, according to Roanoke County Public Schools.
Andrew Thacker was supposed to spend Thursday teaching his students about interest groups. Instead, he spent much of the day trying to help government class wrap their minds around what occurred at the U.S. Capitol one day prior.
âThis is a class that changes in real time,â Thacker said Thursday. âAt a momentâs notice, breaking news happens, and you just kind of have to throw out what you had planned and go with the moment.â
Roanoke Valley educators on Thursday sought to support their students and provide answers the day after an angry mob of President Donald Trumpâs supporters stormed the Capitol, causing members of Congress to evacuate and temporarily delaying the certification of electoral results.