APS pushes start date, to speak about reopening plans Tuesday morning

ATLANTA — Atlanta Public Schools superintendent Lisa Herring will talk about the details of the district’s proposed reopening plan during a virtual media roundtable.

The APS Board of Education heard public comments from staff, students, parents and community members during a special board meeting Monday evening.

[Atlanta Public Schools propose starting school year with all virtual learning]

The board voted to move forward with virtual learning and an Aug. 24 start date.

Herring said the decision was made with everyone in mind.

“The trajectory of cases in Atlanta, Fulton County, and Georgia more than suggests, it demands that we take the upmost of caution and delay in person return to our schools,” Herring said.

Herring takes the helm of the Atlanta school system this year, and she and the board have a tough decision ahead: How to start the school year off during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a season where every decision we make is about the wellness of our children and we will, together, get it right. We will not rush, but we will get it right,” Herring said in a video posted to Facebook.

[COUNTY-BY-COUNTY: Plans for returning to school this fall]

Herring also asked the board to eliminate any face-to-face learning for at least the first 9 weeks of school.

Parents have expressed concern about continued digital learning for their students.

“When we were doing online learning, the motivation was just lost and he kind of started feeling down,” said parent Angelique Hosang.

Atlanta Public Schools propose starting school year with all virtual learning The school district will turn to an all-virtual learning model for the first nine weeks of school, according to a presentation shared by Dr. Lisa Herring.

Cox Media Group