CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Some students will be walking into the classroom Tuesday for the first time since Spring Break of 2020.
Many schools across the Coastal Bend have decided to begin in-class instruction at limited capacity.
"I like it because I think it’s going to help keep them safe, but then l don’t like it because you know they’re wanting to socialize with their friends," said Alexis Theil, a mother of three.
Her children will be heading back to class within the Gregory-Portland Independent School District. It is her only option, she said, because she works full-time and her husband goes to school full-time.
Theil believes the younger students need to be back in the classroom. Her son has ADHD and said he cannot get his work done properly when he is at home.
"I feel like it’s necessary and appropriate because they’re not able to keep their masks on and not be touching their faces and stuff," she said.
GPISD did put out a video showing their POD System they will be utilizing as students return to buildings.
The POD System video shows how students will use the pods as they are in the classroom, and details how students will even report to the bathroom.
This system will be implemented at GPISD's middle and high school campuses.
The Corpus Christi Independent School District has also implemented their own guidelines for the phase 1 approach.
Schools within CCISD have taken various approaches letting parents know what to expect as their children arrive back to school.
"Hamlin administrators personally called every family to talk through what to expect," said Leanne Libby-Winkler, CCISD's director of communications. "Several campuses held Zoom or Facebook Live meetings to share information and answer questions."
Calk-Wilson Elementary took a video approach to help parents visually see what to expect on their campus.
Some parents who work full-time, like Erika Reuber, are ready for their children to return to the classroom. But Reuber said her fourth-rader cannot start until phase 3 which will be on Oct. 5.
"Now that we have another month of it, I had to hire a nanny on Friday to start tomorrow," Reuber said.
After seeing how CCISD is utilizing CDC guidelines and keeping students safe within the building, Reuber said she is comfortable sending her child back to school.
"With the daily screenings and face masks and dismissals that are set for each grade level. And I know he’ll be in his class the majority of the time, so they are doing a lot to make sure they social distance," Reuber said.
CCISD's phase 1 plan has a core group of students that will be allowed back into buildings. Those students include, ones that have parents as teachers, students that are having technology trouble and students with disabilities.
GPISD said 60% of parents chose to continue with virtual instruction.
On Tuesday, prekindergarten through fifth grade and select, small groups of students at GPISD middle and high school will be allowed back into the classroom.
Many students that have parents as teachers or staff, and students with specific needs will be part of this core group.