MADISON, Wis. — It’ll be a few more months — at least — before public school students in Madison are back to in-person learning.
The Madison Metropolitan School District said Friday it was extending virtual learning through the end of 2020 due to pandemic conditions in the state, Dane County and Madison.
“This was an agonizing decision for all of us,” Superintendent Carlton D. Jenkins. Said in a press release. “It is always our preference to have students in school buildings, learning face to face and engaging with teachers and staff, however at the heart of this decision was our ultimate responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who enters our buildings each day.”
The move comes a day after a state senator from Milwaukee proposed moving all public schools across the state to virtual learning.
“Districts are deciding this for themselves, and I’m encouraging them to move in this direction,” said Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee. ”Especially as we’re seeing community spread and especially because, frankly, adults aren’t following what needs to be done.”
He said any action from the state would have to come in the form of a directive from the health secretary declaring a health emergency and subsequent closure of schools.
While some districts, like Madison, are opting to continue virtual learning, other’s are moving back to in-person classes.
Earlier this week the West De Pere School District near Green Bay announced it’s resuming classes after a short COVID-related move to virtual learning.
“It is believed that schools in session are not significant contributors to community spread,” Superintendent Dennis Krueger wrote to parents. “While we believe it is safe in schools while using mitigation strategies, it is behaviors outside of the school environment that are most often a cause of concern.”
In-person classes resume Monday.
Larson, who has two children learning from home, said statewide closure of schools isn’t ideal.
“Closing schools would not be necessary if everyone was following public health protocols outside of the schools,” he said. “If people were wearing masks; if people were distancing; if people were avoiding large gatherings, we’d be in a much safer space and we wouldn’t see the community spread we’re seeing.”