HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- Parents and teachers came together virtually with Henrico School Board members Tuesday evening to discuss how students will learn in the second nine weeks of the school year.
Before school started in September, Henrico Schools announced it would spend the first nine weeks of class in a nearly 100-percent virtual setting due to COVID-19.
During Tuesday night's online session, dozens of people shared their concerns with school board members.
"What is the value of putting all these people at risk of exposure if they’re going to be doing something, including my daughter, my child, that she could be doing at home in a less restrictive environment," one teacher said during the streaming meeting.
"I feel like I’m spending too much time on the camera," a middle school student, who asked to return to school, said. "It gives me a lot of headaches and things and I really appreciate it if you would give us a choice to go back in person."
A survey sent to parents and teachers earlier in October offered three potential models for a return to in-person learning.
While About 75 percent of teachers said they would return to the classroom if told to do so, 55 percent indicated they would resign, retire, or use sick leave instead of returning to class.
Teachers were allowed to check multiple options.
A slight majority of parents, 55 percent, indicated they preferred to keep their kids learning from home.
"I have some major concerns with the speed at which the county is pushing for this [reopening] option to occur," one parent told school board members.
“I just ask that you consider choice," another parent said. "Give us the option of a hybrid model for the next nine weeks. Hanover is doing it. Chesterfield is doing it. Powhattan is doing it. Goochland is doing it," another parent added.
The Henrico School Board will vote on a plan Thursday at its 5 p.m. meeting.
