MOUNT VERNON – Oct. 19 will mark a milestone for Mount Vernon City Schools, when students go back to the classroom five days a week for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic struck last spring.
Although the school system reopened Aug. 25, it has been on a hybrid system of two days a week in the classroom and three days a week online.
“Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, Mount Vernon City Schools will transition to the Traditional (Green) learning model where students will attend in-person learning, five days a week,” the system announced on itswebsite. “The district will continue to offer a ‘Digital Academy’ option to students in grades K-12.”
The news prompted mixed reactions on the Mount Vernon News Facebook page.
“Although there are definitely concerns, I feel that our children need this as it brings back a sense of normalcy,” Elli Johnson posted. “Our schools have done a pretty terrific job through all of this of implementing a course of action for the safety of everyone. As long as those plans are followed by all I believe this will be a successful return to full-time schedules.”
Guy Hager agreed.
“Although some parents are capable of ensuring that their kids are learning independently, many are not,” he wrote. “We have kids on endless summer break and are in danger of having an uneducated generation. With proper precautions, the children should be in school preparing to become good citizens.”
But there were also some who believe it’s too early to go back and will keep their children at home learning online.
“As the weather gets colder and more people are staying inside, I think it’s too soon to go full-time,” Jacyln Snyder posted. “My children will continue digital learning for now. The teachers are doing a great job.”
Her opinion was shared by Jennifer Cadoret.
“Covid-19 IS real,” she wrote. “And Knox County is just at the beginning of seeing what this pandemic can do. I think it's shortsighted to open fully.”
School Superintendent William Seder said the decision to offer in-person learning full time was reached after consulting with Knox Public Health officials and local physicians to “evaluate current research, current state and local data, as well as trends relative to the health and safety of students and staff.”
