The Henry County Board of Education’s decision to delay the start of the school year and then begin with all students in a virtual learning program caused many parents to reshuffle their plans. A chief concern for those families consisting of either a single working parent or two parents who both work outside the home was how their children would be able to work at home alone.

  New Covenant Church in McDonough came up with a solution for some of the parents in its congregation as well as a few others in the community. The church is providing a “supervised virtual learning environment” for about 30 young people who are assisted by a small group of volunteers.

  “We have a few members in our congregation who were really struggling with not knowing what they were going to do,” said Alexandra Daigle, who oversees the program at the church. “We put our heads together to come up with something mainly for our own church members, although we have expanded beyond that. We wanted to help these parents because many of them are working and cannot be with their kids during the day to make sure they are getting their work done.”

  Right now there are 30 students assembling at the church each day, from first grade to 12th grade. That is all the facility can accommodate at the moment while still adhering to CDC guidelines and maintaining social distancing. About a half-dozen adults oversee the students.

  With no knowledge of any other church or group providing this service, Daigle said the demand has exceeded the supply. “We have a waiting list,” she acknowledged. “We might be able to put students in another area and possibly double our capacity in the future, but that is still in works.”

  The students are using their own devices supplied by the school district. All the church has had to provide is a safe space for them to operate and some helpful grown-ups to keep an eye on them.

  “We supply the Internet connection, places for them to charge their equipment, and just a productive area for them to get their work done,” said Daigle.

  There is a nominal cost for this service but the church is not making any money on it. The revenue is primarily so that the church can “bless our volunteers for taking time out of their day to help with the kids,” as Daigle put it. Two of those volunteers are substitute teachers.

  Parents interested in the program can contact the church at 770-957-9507 or newcovenantoffice@gmail.com to receive complete information and be placed on the waiting list.