CINCINNATI, Ohio—While many school districts in the state have switched to in-person learning, Cincinnati Public Schools is continuing with distance learning.

​​CPS schools recently said it would start blended learning this week, but after Hamilton County went back into the red — a Level 3 county emergency — the school district decided to remain online. 

“They will say one thing and then a week later, change their mind," one mother of CPS children said. "I don’t think they understand the impact that has on families, especially children.”

For one mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, she says this back and forth has taken a real toll on her family. 

“We moved to this neighborhood to send them to Kilgour," she said. "But what CPS is doing, it’s not okay for our children. It’s unacceptable.”

She has two school-aged kids, who both attended Kilgour School last year. But because of the back and forth, she decided to pull her first grader and place him in a private school this fall. While there was no room for her third grade son at a private school, she said her first grade son wanted to be in the classroom, which made it an easy decision.

“We have an option to send you to a five day a week wonderful school or sit at home on the computer, and he was very quick to jump to move schools," the mother said.

With the most recent decision for Cincinnati Public Schools to stay online, the district said, in part, “While we are extremely disappointed to have to make this decision, we know it’s the right choice. We have said since spring that we would use data to guide decisions and that the health and safety of our students and staff is our number one priority. As a large urban district, our families are more likely to be negatively impacted by the virus. And, as a district of 36,000 students and 6,000 staff members, the decisions we make exponentially impact the entire Cincinnati community.

But for this mom, another changed plan is another letdown for her son.

“Over the weekend we get a phone call saying now we’re back to remote," she said. "To tell our children you’re going to go back finally and they’re so excited, and then to yank that from them, is heartbreaking to a child.”

But the educational component isn’t the only thing that is making some parents upset.

“Luckily he has two amazing teachers who are very patient with the kids and they’re doing the best they possibly can do given the situation," the mother said. "But you can’t teach that social piece through a screen. My son needs that.”

This parent hopes that the administration hears her plea about how important it is for her children and other children to be back in the classroom.

The board of education is meeting Monday evening to go over the current health situation, longer-term recommendations and athletics.