Unicoi County Schools delaying start of academic from Aug. 10 to Aug. 17

School leaders in Unicoi County are the latest Northeast Tennessee school system to delay the start of the academic year.

Last night, the board of education voted in favor of moving the system’s start from Aug. 10 to Aug. 17, and will hold at least two weeks of online learning beginning Aug. 24. The week of Aug. 17 will operate on a staggered schedule as students will return to the buildings to meet with teachers and obtain their learning devices.

A potential return to in-person instruction could happen starting Sep. 8, as Superintendent of Schools John English will make a determination by Sep. 2.

The full timeline released by the school system can be found below:

Aug. 3-6 — Teachers report to their buildings for in-service

Aug. 10-14 — Teachers train and prepare to deliver virtual instruction

Aug. 17-21 — Staggered meeting times for students to meet their teachers and retrieve learning devices, such as iPads (K-2) or Chromebooks (3-12).

Aug. 24 — Virtual instruction begins

Sept. 2 — Announcement from Director of Schools John English regarding possible return to in-person learning on Sept. 8

Sept. 7 — Labor Day holiday

Sept. 8 — Potential return to in-person learning, pending announcement from Mr. English