Bruce Drysdale and Hendersonville elementaries will operate on the traditional calendar for the 2020-21 school year in order to avoid starting the year-round schools virtually in July.

Looking at the prospect of starting the county’s two year-round schools virtually in July, as social distancing measures could continue to remain in place, the Henderson County School Board voted unanimously to align the schools with the traditional calendar, which is set to begin Aug. 17.

The decision is only for the 2020-21 school year and the schools will return to the flex calendar in 2021-22.

Superintendent Bo Caldwell said the virtual school system currently has been successful because the student and teacher relationships were already in place prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. But he was hesitant to start elementary students, especially kindergartners, with a new year and new teachers virtually.

Board members agreed, as have the principals at both schools