President Donald Trump threatened to withhold funding from the schools if they did not reopen this fall, even though he has little power to do so. The reopening of school buildings for the 2020-21 school year has become a political fight at the federal level. “We acknowledge in this regard that our African American families are particularly at risk.”īlack residents of Marion County tested positive for COVID-19 at twice the rate of whites, according to SAVI, a research organization from the Polis Center at IUPUI.
“Experts caution that students themselves may become infected and that even if they do not become seriously ill they may pass the virus to adults with whom they reside, including those who are immunocompromised or are vulnerable for other reasons,” the board said in a statement. The board said it weighed the concerns of families for opening classroom instruction, and not offering in-person teaching.
Eric Holcomb, Mayor Joe Hogsett and public health officials. Today, Washington Township board members said they were in a difficult position to make a decision on whether to reopen classrooms because of the “limited specific guidance” from Gov. They also agreed to follow recommendations for in-class teaching from the Marion County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention if they opened their school buildings. It is one of 11 public school districts in Marion County.ĭistrict superintendents jointly announced last month they would reopen classrooms and offer the option for on-line learning. Washington Township Schools enrolls around 11,100 students in grades K-12 at 13 schools. There is no timeline for when buildings will reopen. The board said a previously approved school reopening plan would be used when students returned to school buildings. “While we do so today, we have also considered what in our judgment is in the best interest of our students’ families and of our dedicated faculty, staff, and administration and their families,” board members said in a statement.Īll in-person sports, extracurricular events and programs are also suspended.ĭetails on the remote learning plan will be released soon, according to the district. In a statement, the board members said it must always think of students first, including Black families, who health officials say, are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The Washington Township School Board approved a resolution Monday morning in a 3-2 vote at a special meeting, citing ongoing infections and deaths from the coronavirus and feedback from parents and staff. Previously, the district said it intended to offer full-time in-class instruction or the option for remote classes. Washington Township Schools will only open virtually for at-home learning when school starts July 30.