SJSD to return to 5-days a week in-person learning in January

School district will return to the classroom.

Good evening and thanks for joining us.

That was the decision made by the school board tonight.

Begining january 14th students will report in-person five days a week.

But not everyone is happy about it-- kq2's madeline mcclain explains.

<<the st joseph school board voting yes to send kids back to the classroom next semester.

Tami pasley, st.

Joseph school board: "all elementary, middle school, high school back, full-time five days."board members had to decide what format to start the second semester with?

All virtual?

Hybrid- like it is now?

Or full-time in-person.

Tami pasley, st.

Joseph school board: "nothing about covid has been an easy decision.

Especially when it comes to..

Because we are in the business of people so when it comes to our staff and our students doing what's best for them no, it's never an easy decision but we listen to our medical experts."the board president says that -- in addition to local covid-19 numbers trending downwards-- is what convinced them to vote yes.

Tami pasley, st.

Joseph school board: "the best situation for any student, no matter what grade level is to be in the classroom in front of that highly qualified teacher and so our decision tonight reflects that."it's not a decision everyone is happy with.j.

Eric simmons, represents local educators: "it is a little disheartening that the board of education is making the move to put all of our students back in person after the start of second semester."j.

Eric simmons represents fellow teachers in the st.

Joseph chapter of the national education association.

67 percent of members surveyed said they wanted to continue in a hybrid model.j.

Eric simmons, represents local educators: "we would have liked to see the district wait until the critical populations have received vaccinations in our community and that our staff would have received vaccinations prior to doing this."or at least until they can check the community's covid temperature after the holidays.saying the association is concerned about the safety of students, families and school staff.

J.

Eric simmons, represents local educators: "we are going to be putting students back into small classrooms, large numbers of students, 25 or more students in a classroom, close quarters, and we know that even with masks transmission is still possible so that our biggest concerns."

District officials say they understand those concerns but they still recommend sending students back to school full- time.saying they also have to consider families who struggle with virtual learning.doug van zyl, sjsd superintendent: "there is no perfect black and white plan.

There's still going to be here's what we hope to do and then some gray that may come along the way depending on what happens with covid."and after christmas break -- students will finish the first semester in the hybrid format until january 14th when they will go back to in-person learning.so if they need to make a change -- they can do that.doug van zyl, sjsd superintendent: if data shows that we need to make some adjustments just like we had to do for ellison a couple of weeks ago, we may have to go to remote for a building or a couple of buildings if we have issues."

Tami pasley, st.

Joseph school board: "i feel pretty good about the decision that we are making but again, it has to be fluid and it can change at any time."reporting, madeline mcclain kq2 news.

Students enrolled in the virtual academy will not be affected.

This is for those enrolled in "in-person learning".

They will start hybrid on january 5 and then switch to in-person on the 14th.

For