Parents, students react to virtual switch

Thanks for joining us tonight.

I'm dan shaffer.

And i'm najahe sherman.

We talked to parents and students in the district after they learned the shift to virtual learning starts monday.

Waay 31's will robinson-smith joins us live outside of the school board office.

He spoke with administrators to find out what families need to know.

Will... the virtual shift will last all next week as well as the first two weeks of the spring semester.

School leaders say this is the best decision giving the recent spike they've seen across the district.

We all have to be really, i guess the word of the day is 'fluid.'

Parent melissa mccool is one of thousands across the city of decatur who learned her daughters would be learning virtually next week and the start of next semester after the holidays.

Right now -- 822 students are in quarantine along with 109 faculty members.

Melissa mccool, parent i totally get it.

I do not wish for anybody to sit in the seat of the decision makers on this one.

It's really hard, but the numbers are not great.

Superintendent dr. michael douglas says there's evidence of spread within some schools and the rate of spread was alarming.

Dr. michael douglas, superintendent, decatur city schools the idea is to get zero positives.

So, i don't mind quarantining 800, but we went up 30 positives this week and it just seems irresponsible to continue that.

So, that's why we made the transition.

Mccool's eldest dauther, elizabeth, says she's doesn't mind going virtual, but hopes that this won't impact spring sports.

Elizabeth mccool, 8th grader, decatur middle school i was kind of excited, but also i just don't want it to get in the way of my soccer season and my sports.

Athletic director watt parker assured that despite the pause on in-person learning -- winter sports would largely go on -- but with some additional restrictions.

Watt parker, athletic director, decatur city schools we've been very, very conscious of our numbers in all of our events, so we're even going to reduce those a little bit more and just continue with our cleaning, continue with our separation, continue with our guidance.

And as parents across decatur prepare for the virtual shift -- mothers like jennifer pumphrey say she and her friends are trying to get ready to help their children as best they can.

Jennifer pumphrey, parent it's hard for a lot of parents to do.

It's overwhelming sometimes, but it's the safest thing at this point to do so that maybe come january we can eventually get back to the school and get back to the 'new normal.'

Right now -- nearly 70 students and staff members are positive with covid-19.

Lead nurse for decatur city schools says fortunately -- most students who are positive have mild or no symptoms. reporting live in decatur -- will robinson-smith -- waay 31 news.