Benton Co. schools delay start of school year due to coronavirus

Benton County schools will not start back next week, Aug. 3, as previously planned.

The news was announced today first in a message from the Benton County School System to teachers and parents and then to the public via a Facebook Live announcement from Superintendent Mark Florence.

Florence sited members of the "school family" being diagnosed with COVID-19 as the reason for the board's decision to delay the beginning of the fall semester. He did not give a new start date, but said the board will meet Monday, Aug. 3 to plan a new school calendar.