DECATUR, Ala. — Some kids in Morgan County School and Decatur City School districts will start school in-person in just one week. Parents may have questions about sending their kids back to class.
Leaders at both school districts plan to send kids back August 12th, however each district has a different approach.
Morgan County School Board Chairman, John Holley, says in addition to hybrid and virtual learning, traditional learning will include some form of remote learning.
"They will also have one day a week where they will stay home or whatever, and that's on Wednesday and it will be a complete virtual day," says Morgan County School Board Chairman, John Holley.
Decatur City Schools has a similar model. "Our virtual model would also include some small groups coming into the building so that we can service our student population that is of the most need," says Decatur City Schools Superintendent, Michael Douglas.
Here's where both districts differ, Decatur City Schools will monitor the county's risk level. This will determine if the school will start completely virtual.
"If we're green, yellow, or orange then we will have in-person school. But if we were to go to the highest level, then we will transition to the virtual model," says Douglas.
Morgan County is currently at a 'high' risk level, which is in the orange category. Holley says they'll consider each local area, instead of closing schools district-wide if need be.
"Morgan County Schools is spread out. We have seventeen different schools. It's spread out across the whole county from one end of the county to the other. We don't know if it's a one size fits all school," says Holley.
Judy Smith with the Alabama Department of Public Health reminds parents to make sure their kids get vaccinated for other viruses.
"We certainly don't need our kids in the school to have measles, mumps, and chicken pox, added on to what's going on with COVID. Please don't forget in the middle of all this - your children do need their school vaccinations," says Smith.