Innovating the classroom during COVID-19

Hayesville, NC – During the coronavirus pandemic, teachers are Clay County Schools (CCS) are finding new methods to safely educate their students. At the November 2020 school board meeting, sixth grade teacher Ginger Scerri and eighth grade teacher Amanda Gaddis Coker presented the Clay County Outdoor Classroom Project and Go Grant.

Scerri shared her views that children can benefit from a change of scenery during the day. Also, health officials have advocated getting outside to combat COVID-19. She received permission to start a GoFundMe for the outdoor classroom project earlier in the year to develop two separate spaces.

The two outdoor classrooms will be in areas that all schools can use and will be graveled off. In total, the areas will have 24 heavy duty tables and 8 benches. The equipment will come from school outfitters and are made of metal as well as a high-gloss thermoplastic finish. Each table costs $959 and each bench costs $381.

Area one is adjacent to the Hayesville Middle School library and the Hayesville Elementary School. It would hold 12 tables and 8 benches. The area total to be fundraised for these items combined is $14,556.

Area two is along the wall of the central office and at the center of Hayesville Middle School and Hayesville High School grounds. 12 tables would go in this area. The area total to be fundraised for these items combined is $11,508.

The GoFundMe raised $9,581 and the NC Schools Go Outside (GO) Grant contributed $14,950 for a total of $24,531. The GO grant is designed to get children outside during the school day and provide access to field study locations. The grant money purchased 16 tables and 4 benches for the outdoor classrooms.

“We want to walk out the other side of this thing better than we started,” Superintendent Dale Cole stated about COVID-19. He also commended these teachers for finding ways to innovate during the pandemic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzaWvQJ1JkE&t=739s