Fayette County schools push back start date, gives option for virtual or in-person learning

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ga. — Students in Fayette County will be starting school a little later than originally scheduled.

The county’s school board decided Monday night that school will start on Aug. 17, a week later than the Aug. 10 date announced in early July.

The school board is also giving parents the option of both full-time virtual and brick and mortar learning models for the 2020-2021 school year.

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

“The delayed start date will give parents additional time to consider the school choice model best suited for their family’s needs now that the school system has made a decision about how school will be conducted at the start of the new year,” the school board said in a release.

Students pre-K through second grade will return to school five days a week. Students in grades 3-12 will attend school on an A/B schedule, meeting face-to-face at school two days a week and virtually the rest of the week.

The board said the school choice form has been reopened and should be resubmitted only if parents are changing their original choice of brick and mortar school or full time virtual school, or if they are completing the form for the first time.

[CLICK HERE FOR SCHOOL CHOICE FORM]

The form must be completed by midnight on July 29, and one form must be submitted for each student in a household. Responses will be used to help the school system plan for staffing for the coming school year.

Parents who do not complete the form will have their students automatically enrolled in the brick and mortar model.

Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes heard a mix of reactions from parents in the district after the announcement was made.

“I’m just very confused and troubled as to what I should do,” Cheryll Barbra said.

According to Fayette School officials, teacher will be in the classroom at schools. They told Fernandes that a teacher would be available for digital students who are struggling.

But some parents don’t believe that is true.

“I don’t understand why my child cant be linked in to that classroom to get that same instruction. It’s almost like they’re punishing people that just want their children to be safe.”

There are some parents who are happy with the plan. Briana Murphy, a mother of three, said she feels good about sending her 6th grade back to school.

Her son is 11 years old and on the autism spectrum. After consulting all of his doctors, Murphy believes her son is better off going to school for two days and learning virtually the other three days.

“I think for us, it really is the best option,” Murphy said.

You can still find good back to school sales online Back to school shopping may look a little different this years, but Channel 2 consumer advisor Clark Howard says you can still find some great deals.

Cox Media Group