After the Thanksgiving break, middle and high school students in the School District of Janesville will switch to virtual learning, but elementary school students will return in-person.
The Janesville Education Association is asking the school board to reverse that decision and let the younger students go online too.
JEA President Dave Groth said the teachers union is concerned about the spread of COVID-19 within the elementary schools after potential exposure at family Thanksgiving gatherings.
When the school board voted to keep these grade levels in-person, board members were concerned that virtual learning would be less effective for these younger students.
The board did not want to assume that its families won’t follow public health recommendations to have smaller holiday gatherings.
Groth noted that some district elementary schools have already had to do virtual learning during temporary closures for COVID-19, and he wants to see the school board be proactive in protecting the teachers from potential future outbreaks from the holidays.
The board isn’t scheduled to meet again until December 8, after elementary school students will be back in the classrooms.
