In-person or internet? Sullivan County parents vary on pandemic back to school plans

Parents came out to share different viewpoints as Sullivan County Public Schools prepare for an Aug. 24 hybrid schedule.

“I’m a nervous wreck. Last night, I had my fifth grader with his homework out and then my eight grader sitting here on this side. I had to have them leave the room so I could have a nervous breakdown because I can’t do it. I can’t do it,” said Blountville mother of two Ashley Cross describing her at-home experience since the pandemic with distance learning.

Viewpoints varied at the Board of Education public hearing the board held at Sullivan Central High School with some parents wanting classrooms to remain closed due to the virus risk while others want their kids back in front of their teachers instead of a computer screen.

Other subjects such as mental health, child care costs, and some children at risk for abuse among other family challenges were discussed.

School board member Paul Robinson said teachers were dealt a bad hand with remote learning forced by the pandemic and they need encouragement instead of complaints.

He also said it is an uncertain time in education with impactful decisions to be made.

“Heaven forbid we lose a student or a teacher. That’s going to weigh on me. You need to take that into consideration whenever you’re telling us to force these kids back into these schools wide open,” said Robinson. – Electric 94.9 News Room