New Kent Public Schools to have week off for Thanksgiving

New Kent Public School students and employees will have a whole week off for the Thanksgiving holiday.

School board members voted unanimously to add Nov. 22 and Nov. 23 as days off. The vote follows a trend in the area providing teachers and students additional days off due to the ongoing adjustments when returning to in-person learning. New Kent Public Schools were already scheduled to have Nov. 24-26 off.

“Throughout this year, we have struggled with finding substitutes and asked our teachers to step up to the place,” said New Kent Superintendent of Schools Brian Nichols. “They have filled in with classroom coverage, served as lunch monitors, and have gone beyond what we asked them to do.

“The two days will not effect our calendar,” he added. “There will be no additional days or time that is needed to be added towards the end of the year.”

The additional days will also assist the school system with enhanced cleaning protocols.