PHM leaders approve virtual school year start

NOW: PHM leaders approve virtual school year start
NEXT:

MISHAWAKA, Ind.-- The School Board of Trustees voted unanimously that all Penn-Harris-Madison school students will participate in virtual learning from August 19 to Septemeber 11, with in-person classes picking back up on September 14th.

“My child’s health is more important than the struggle that’s going to be trying to do the e-learning at home,” PHM parent Megain Hamilton said.

Before in-person classes resume on September 14, parents will be able to choose whether their students continue learning virtually or in person, as long as the 7 day rolling average of COVID cases by the St. Joseph County Department of Health show that it’s safe to return.

PHM’s goal is to provide students an effective alternative route to learning, and hopes to have students back at school as quickly as possible.

The main areas of discussion included student and staff safety, communication, and overall pros and cons to both virtual and in-person learning.

In a recent survey shared during the school board meeting, 72% of PHM parents voted in favor of in-person learning, and 28% of PHM parents voted in favor of virtual learning as the best option of learning for students this school year.

Some of these parents sharing mixed feelings on the unanimous vote.

“I understand that the number of COVID cases are raising, but you know, but if everybody is safe and does their part then I think it could happen,” PHM parent Heather Clark-Grabarek said.

“It’s going to be rough doing it, but it’s better to do something to make sure my child is safe, my children my family are safe then to do the face to face,” Hamilton said.

Families will be given two weeks’ notice to any changes on the return to in-person learning.

Share this article: