Some schools across the state are deciding to open up in-person class rooms, while the majority of the schools are doing strictly online-based learning and virtual class rooms.
In The Tri-Cities, Kennewick schools have decided to start in-person learning in a matter of weeks, while both the Richland and Pasco school districts are gearing up for school board meetings to talk about what their plan is on Tuesday.
The Richland school district hasn’t said how they will go about in-person instruction. Parents will be gathering at the school board meeting to rally against hybrid learning and call for in-person, full-time school for all.
“We’re working on details involved in preparing for the transition to a blended learning model. It involves our students coming to school two days a week and then learning from home for three days a week,” said Shane Edinger, Pasco School District Communications Director.
Kendall Leingang is a Richland mother with an 11-year-old son with autism, she said “Two days a week is laughable. It’s insulting. Anyone in education knows that and anyone in special education knows that especially. They know that this is going to be more disruptive than it will be helpful.”
“They’re hoping to placate us to be like ‘oh, well this is a start, we’re moving in the right direction.’ Yeah we are, but we’re dragging our feet. This has gone long enough. People are not okay and families in my situation are not okay,” said Leingang.
Shelly Burt, who says teaching her son with special needs virtually has only made things worse, shares a sentiment that many families across the state are sharing.
“Behaviors are a lot worse. There’s been so much regression since March. We’re in survival mode,” said Burt.
“We’re going to keep showing up until all of our kids are in school, all the time, period,” said Leingang, saying she and other parents will not stop rallying until major changes are made.
She continued, “There’s a lot of other moms like me. I see them at the rally and you can see it on our faces. We show up and we’re fighting, but at the end of the day we go home and we hold each other up and we’re there for each other, but this is hard.”
The Pasco and Richland school board meetings will start at 6:30PM on Tuesday, via Zoom.
For more information on how you can watch the meeting go here and here.
