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FBISD looks to extend virtual learning to Oct. 5

Flour Bluff ISD
Posted at 2:13 PM, Aug 12, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-12 21:58:00-04

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Flour Bluff ISD officials have submitted a waiver to the Texas Education Agency for an extension of online instruction until Oct. 5.

School begins for Flour Bluff students Thursday with online instruction.

The extension would allow the district to to delay in-person school instruction for those who want it until then.

Last month, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Moranth issued a release stating that public schools had the option of providing exclusively online instruction for eight weeks, but in order to remain fully funded by the state, campuses would have to be made available for face-to-face instruction after those eight weeks.

School officials said COVID-19 cases in the area remain too high, and new data on transmission of the novel coronavirus from children to adults also was discussed at the district's specially called board meeting Tuesday as a reason to delay getting students back into the classroom.

The district's superintendent David Freeman died of COVID-19-related complications earlier this month.

Flour Bluff ISD spokesperson Kim Sneed said the district is being vigilant.

"The additional four weeks give us more time for what we're hoping is to see a decrease in the number of cases, because quite frankly in hasn't decreased," she said.

The decision is important for families in the district, Sneed said.

“We also want our families to have time to prepare, so we decided as a district, with input from staff and principals, that this would be best for our school district," she said.

KRIS 6 News spoke to families who have contrasting views about extending virtual learning.

FBISD parent Alison Sharp said online instruction does not benefit her two children.

"We don't like it," she said. "Both of my kids are special ed; they have ADHD. "We're already getting pushback for them by getting packet work, so if they push it back further -- my kids need the socialization."

Bobby Freeman, who has grandchildren in the district, said students should stay home.

“I would not recommend going to school, period," Freeman said. "My wife is a nurse, and there's too much cases in the area. At first they said kids couldn't get it and now several kids have got it."