Transitioning back to traditional learning

Transitioning back to traditional learning

Sick with coronavirus symptoms. new details tonight -- we are hearing from parents after the lauderdale county board of education voted to bring students back to traditional school full-time by mid-october.

This afternoon - board members agreed to gradually bring back all students - starting with in-person classes four days a week.

Waay 31's casey albritton learned how the transition will look.

Here's the new schedule-- after only being in classes two days a week under the current plan, starting next week students will spend the next month getting used to being in traditional school four days a week... mondays, tuesdays, thursdays and fridays.

And by october 19th, everyone will be back full-time five days a week.

It's a change many parents i spoke to are excited about.

Misty wood/ parent "the virtual thing is hard and it's harder for them to pay attention to a screen."

Chasity shook/ parent "many families here in lauderdale county still don't have access to internet and they are still struggling."

Some parents who have students in lauderdale county schools say they have had a hard time adjusting to the virtual program.

Misty wood/ parent "the balance of it is really hard, you know, when people are trying to keep a job and do all of that, and plus we are not school teachers.

I mean, we didn't get to go to class for this."

Chasity shook/ parent "they aren't absorbing much and are just trying to make deadlines."

And now the district is making a change.

Tim tubbs/ assistant superintendent "it's the best interest of our students to get them back to in- person learning."

The lauderdale county board of education decided on monday to bring students back for in-person school four days a week at first-- pre-k through 6th grade starting on september 21st.

7th through 8th grade on september 28th... and high school starting on october 5th... then all students will be brought back full-time by october 19th.

Misty wood/ parent "i just feel like it's way better than being isolated at home with their parents.

And with that schedule change, comes more cleaning.

Tim tubbs/ assistant superintendent "we are fogging classrooms as much as possible, we are cleaning as much as possible."

Parents chasity shook and misty wood say although they are ready for their children to go back to school, they understand there's a risk.

Misty wood/ parent "i let my little one wear a mask because i am trying to protect his health, but i still want him to have somewhat of a normal childhood."

But not everyone agrees with the board's decision... some parents who didn't want to go on camera told me they think the district is bringing children back too quickly-- the district says it will continue to monitor coronavirus cases in the area and make adjustments to the plan when needed.

In florence, casey albritton, waay 31 news.

The district also announced it had 16 students and 12 employees test positive since the first day of school - and recently hired two nurses to help keep up with contact tracing.

"it's a challenge, but they are doing a great job.

We have a great set of nurses.

They are doing the best they can right now."

Tubbs says the district wants to hire