GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Green Bay Area Public School District voted 5-2 to start the school year virtually at its meeting Monday evening.
The leaders of Green Bay Public Schools met virtually, trying to figure out how students should return to school this fall.
“We are in the position to trying to make the best bad choice,” GBAPSD Superintendent Stephen Murley said.
Discussion lasted more than three hours, with at times reluctant support for options.
“Heavy heart and full weight, I’m going to support a virtual star,” board president Eric Vanden Huevel said.
Board members heard concerns from community members during the special meeting before a vote.
“Children need routine and regular social interaction,” Vanden Huevel said. “Yes, the infection rate in our community is high. Yes, online learning is not as effective in person. Yes.”
Some members were concerned for families who work and won’t be at home to help with their child’s learning.
*Working families should be considered invalidated and honored and not shamed because they have to go to work,” board member Rhonda Sitnikau said.
Board members also considered the possibility of starting in-person, then flipping to virtually.
“The stability of starting in-person and then having to, with no notice at all swing back…,” board member Brenda Warren said.
Guidelines from the federal government came out, recommending schools re-open.
In a statement, the CDC details reasons why kids need to be in-person for school.
It said, in part….
“Schools … provide critical services that help meet the needs of children and families, especially those who are disadvantaged…”
Schools are… “supporting the development of social and emotional skills, creating a safe environment for learning, identifying and addressing neglect and abuse, fulfilling nutritional needs, and facilitating physical activity.”
Green Bay’s teachers union had pushed for online-learning. That will be the plan this fall.
The school board voted to review the district’s learning model, every week.
Right now, the criteria to start bringing kids back to school is a 14-day trend where Brown County’s positive test rate is five percent or lower.
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