Parents concerned after multiple changes to school reopening plans
WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. – Some parents are raising concern after what they say has been a whirlwind month with Showell Elementary School’s reopening plans. They say there’s been three changes in less than month and that the lack of consistency has them worried. “We have questions about why these changes are happening with literally three changes in less than a month of school. This is not acceptable on any level,” said parent Jessica Clark.
Clark says that when plans were originally announced, students were assigned teachers for virtual learning. About two weeks later she says students were assigned one teacher for hybrid learning and one for in person. Clark says finally, they received information from the school earlier this week stating that students will go back to their original teacher. Teachers will now instruct virtual and in person students simultaneously.
Clark says she’s concerned about how teachers will keep students active and engaged as teachers essentially juggle two classrooms. “There are kids as young as three that go to Showell Elementary School and the oldest kid is in fourth grade. I feel like it’s very burdensome to our teachers. It’s very burdensome to our families, to our kids,” said Clark.
Parents say that they want more answers on why there have been multiple changes. Some took to social media, voicing their concerns. One wrote “How is one teacher going to keep both in school and online students engaged at the same time?” Another said “This is crazy. It should be either one way or the other. Kids got used to one schedule now let’s flip it around.”
In response Worcester County Public Schools told 47ABC in a statement that Showell is making the changes to provide more consistency for their families. In the end, that’s what parents say they want after months of uncertainty. “This has been a year of crazy change and it is just continuing without much warning. It seems unnecessary at this point when there was seven months to decide on a plan,” said Clark.
WCPS continued their statement by writing that it’s important to remember this is not a district wide change. WCPS also says that the change will align virtual students back to their normal class schedule. The school district says they expect this to be the last change for students.
