Galesburg Reporter

Having had the opportunity to use the past month as an evaluation tool, the Abingdon-Avon School Board in Illinois voted to resort to in-person instruction on a four-day basis each week.

The school board had previously decided to begin school in a virtual format since it began the new instructional year on Aug. 24. When it made the decision to resume school by a 4-3 vote on Aug. 12, there was a commitment made to revisit the issue during the board’s September meeting, the Register-Mail reported. What form in-person instruction will take has yet to be decided as details will be ironed out with the teacher’s union as the district continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The decision to begin with the virtual format was influenced partly by district parents whose wishes were made known in a survey. During the summer, 26% indicated they preferred for their students to learn online. Superintendent Mike Curry said since the survey was released, there has been a change of heart from some of the parents. It was not indicated how many parents preferred the in-person option and a blended option.

Superintendent Mike Curry | File photo

“That (information us) more than a month old,” he said. “People’s minds about the virus have changed so much.”

Parents also had the opportunity to change their minds once they were able to experience what virtual learning would entail. Curry added some parents did not find having their children home all day or having to seek out teachers to assist with teaching was an acceptable alternative to brick and mortar learning.

Despite the adjustment, the district intends to keep an online learning format available but there will probably be changes to the format. Curry said that is in part to draw away from other pandemic-induced stress.

“I don’t want to add more workload stress to an already stressed workforce during the pandemic,” Curry said.