Category: News

LYNCHBURG, TN (March 13, 2020) – On Friday, March 13, 2020, Motlow State Community College announced that it will extend Spring Break for students through Sunday, March 22. Classes will resume in an online-only format beginning Monday, March 23, and continue online-only through Sunday, April 5, when an updated operational announcement will be made.

The extension of Motlow’s Spring Break is for students only. Staff report to work in keeping with the instructions from their division leaders. The extension of Spring Break provides both students and the College the needed time to prepare for alternative delivery methods for classes and to deepen the availability of technologies needed to provide remote services should they be needed. The goal of this period is to ensure the well-being of staff, students, and faculty while supporting the academic mission of the institution during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic response.

Motlow has now sanitized its buildings with a Clorox 360 spray. It has also published an updated pandemic plan. The plan frames four distinct operational levels the college will observe and provides details on how those operational levels impact various stakeholders (see the levels listed below).

The move to extend Spring Break currently puts the College at a Level II operational stage. Throughout the pandemic response period, the operational status of the College will be posted on the homepage of Motlow’s website (mscc.edu). The operational level icon that displays at the top of the College’s home page will also link students to more detailed information about the college’s pandemic status. Students are encouraged to take time to review the homepage and the linked coronavirus information page to familiarize themselves with the various stages. Students are also encouraged to take any measures they believe are needed to continue their academic plans online.

The move to return from an extended Spring Break at Level II operations comes with the decision to move to online-only classes through April 5. The current Level II operational status also includes the cancellation of all student extracurricular activities through the end of the month. The College would like to be explicit about the current announcement to operate at Level II status.
— All classes will be held online from March 23 through April 5.
–All student activities are canceled through April 5.
–The current cancellation of student activities includes student travel.

Students should pay special attention to Level II operational status. Level II is adaptably defined to give Motlow flexibility in de-escalating its response. Motlow is currently observing the height of a Level II Operational Status, which is an online-only class delivery mode. It is important to note for the future that Level II may not always include online-only classes. The college could return to some labs, clinicals, and work-learning options.

Motlow’s priorities are to honor the safety and well-being of its students and the employees who serve them. Student success and workforce development are the top priorities at Motlow. The College is pursuing a plan that supports student outcomes while we do our part to protect the local workforce by making an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. Motlow has already been actively integrating new technologies that support its long-term vision. Those plans now help us as we temporarily shift to providing remote student support services and move solely to online instruction during this critical period.

The College has disinfected its facilities, trained staff in new tools, crafted communication resources, and developed a clear plan of action.

Following advice from public health professionals concerning the COVID-19 virus, the Manchester Recreation Center announced Friday that it is cancelling all group fitness classes, closing the casual care nursery and the youth wellness room from Monday, March 16 through March 21.

The underwater egg hunt scheduled for March 21 has also been postponed until further notice.

The department will evaluate on a weekly basis when to resume these activities. The recreation complex will be open on a regular schedule, unless the Manchester City Schools were to close for COVID-19 – the center will follow the school system’s lead. All outdoor park facilities will be open to the public, even if the recreation complex is closed at any point.

The Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court has declared a state of emergency for the Judicial Branch of the Tennessee government, effectively shutting down all in-person court proceedings in all state and local courts, including municipal, juvenile, general sessions, trial and appellate courts.

These in-person proceedings are suspended beginning at close of business Friday, March 13 through Tuesday, March 31. This according to an order issued by Tennessee Supreme Court.

Coffee County Circuit Court Clerk Heather Duncan told Thunder Radio News that court personnel and judges will remain in the building at the Coffee County Justice Center and business will continue to operate. However, in-person proceedings will be halted in accordance with the order.

“If someone has a very pressing matter, they can call us or come see us at the circuit court clerk’s office and if we need to get them in front of a judge we will see what we can do,” said Duncan.

There are exceptions to this suspension of proceedings, according to the order, that include the following:

*proceedings necessary to protect constitutional rights of criminal defendants, including bond-related matters and plea agreements for incarcerated individuals
*Civil and criminal jury trials that are in progress as of March 13.
*Proceedings related to relief from abuse, including but not limited to orders of protection
*Proceedings related to emergency child custody orders
*Department of Children’s Services emergency matters related to child protection
*Proceedings related to petitions for temporary injunctive relief
*Proceedings related to emergency mental health orders
*Proceedings related to emergency protection of elderly or vulnerable persons
*Proceedings directly related to the COVID-19 public health emergency
*other exceptions as approved by the Chief Justice.

Here is the updated calendar for General Sessions Court:

Original date March 16, New date: April 6

Original date March 17, new date: April 7

Original date March 18 (civil), new date: April 8

Original date March 19, new date April 9

Original date March 24, new date April 21

Original date March 25 (civil), new date April 15

Original date March 26, new date April 23

Here is the updated calendar for Circuit Court (Judge Jackson):

Original date March 17, new date April 21 (arraignments)

Original date March 23, new date April 27 (divorces)

Original date March 25, new date April 15 (criminal motions)

Original date March 26, new date April 30 (child support)
Updated calendar for Circuit Court (Judge Johnson)

Original date March 16, new date April 20 (divorces)

Original date March 18, new date April 8 (criminal motions)

Updated Calendar Juvenile Court

Original date March 17, new date May 19 (child support)

Original date March 19, new date April 16

Original date March 26, new date April 23