Sept. 3, 2020 11:00p
(WGTD)---The Kenosha School Board re-voted Thursday night on a return-to-school plan that offers both in-person and remote learning options.
The plan still passed, but two dissenters emerged: Rebecca Stevens and Yolanda Santos-Adams. The first vote to offer both options last month was unanimous.
Both Stevens and Santos-Adams said Thursday evening that they were caught off-guard by a motion Aug. 18th to abandon a virtual-only plan that the board had agreed to, and instead give students the option of returning to classrooms.
Santos-Adams said she couldn't in good conscience vote in favor of an in-person option because "we don't know on a scale of one to ten how safe the schools are."
But Board President Tom Duncan said he would stick with his Aug. 18th vote to offer in-person learning as an option. "I think we're ready," Duncan said. "I think we're about as close to being safe as we can," he said.
Duncan also cited a continuing downward trend in the number of new coronavirus cases, and comments from doctors who see a growing number of children who've become stressed and depressed over not being able to mix with their friends.
Thursday's reconsideration was scheduled after the Kenosha Education Association charged last month that the Aug. 18th vote wasn't properly noticed under the state's open meetings law.
Thursday's vote was preceded by nearly three hours of public comment.
The district said Thursday that about 57% of the students have opted for classroom teaching, with nearly 43% going the virtual route. The school year is scheduled to start Sept. 14th.
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