Richland County Elementary students start remote learning

More wabash valley students moved to remote learning today.

That's as the number of covid-19 cases continue to climb.

News 10 bureau chief gary brian explains what led to the decision in richland county, illlinois.

Gar} "students in richland county are just over a week away from winter break.

For elementary students they'll spend that time already at home."

It was a pretty quiet place monday morning at richland county elementary.

That's because students were working from home.

Monday was the first day of remote learning.

They'll stay home for the rest of 20-20.

"what is the magic number?

What is that number that determines when is it going to be nessisary to maybe move from in-person to remote?

And the fact is there wasn't and is not a set number."

You could say that the school district goes with the flow.

That flow last week got rough.

In total...155 students were absent.

But it was the 22 staff members that forced the district to make the call to move to remote learning.

"so we had then on any given day five to seven unfilled positions at the elementary school."

Those numbers are still looking good for students at the middle and high school.

The high school is still under renovations.

Right now classrooms at the high school are being prepared for students.

Students will return for two orientation days next week.

"there's a lot to be done in cleaning really in the next week to get prepared for that to happen."

After that the district will look towards the return to in person classes in 2021.

"as the decision was made for the elementary school to move the elementary school to full remote learning because the numbers there dictated that.

Come january the numbers could dictate something different."

Gar} richland county schools plan to return on january 5th.

Working from home in vincennes, gary brian news 10."