WENTZVILLE, Mo. — Schools are adjusting plans as the start date nears for many of them as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Some parents in the Wentzville School District took part in a protest Thursday evening.
The parents are protesting over the district’s plan for the fall that would be blended to include in-person learning and virtual learning.
Wentzville School District’s superintendent met with the school board Thursday night.
Parents on both sides of the conversation aren’t happy with the plan.
Classes are scheduled to start on Aug. 24. For the first quarter, students will attend school two days a week and learn virtually the other three days.
The meeting Thursday night was described as "heated."
Haylee Hercules is a parent who has two elementary-age children in the district. She is one of many parents who said they prefer her children and others go back to school five days a week.
“The numbers where they stand now are acceptable for our kids to return to school per our nation's doctors," she said.
Jeff Dunlap is another parent in the district.
"The decisions being made aren't being made off of facts or science. We feel they're being made off of external pressures to the board and Dr. Cain," he said.
Mary LaPak, a spokesperson for the district said they want nothing more than to have students back for full face-to-face instruction this year. She also stressed the district has to be mindful of the current conditions.
Which is why LaPak said the blended learning model is the most responsible course of action for the start of school.
“Children that are going to be attending on Monday and Tuesday are also going to be mixing with kids that are going to be attending on Thursdays and Friday. they're increasing the exposure risks, not decreasing it," Dunlap said.
On Wednesday, the district confirmed three positive coronavirus cases in the district.
RELATED: 3 students in Wentzville School District test positive for COVID-19, classes to start as scheduled
The district was made aware of a positive COVID-19 case on Holt High School’s freshman football team on Monday. A band student at Holt also tested positive. The third positive case was a student at Timberland High School.
“Communication is critical,” Superintendent Curtis Cain said. “It is absolutely mission-critical that we are effectively communicating, but I think it is important that we all have a realistic expectation and understanding of what is going to occur and how it is going to occur.”
Wentzville Alderman Robert Hussey participated in the parents’ protest. He was also one of several people who expressed his concerns to the school board.
“I feel like the school district, specifically Dr. Cain because the school board’s not making the decision, is taking that choice from parents as to how they want their children to attend school this year in the face of the pandemic," Hussey said. "The issue is there’s no transparency. There has been no definition of what the metrics are for either all virtual or all in person. I think the people and the parents need that data."
The district said for each case, it contact traced the virus with the St. Charles County Department of Public Health. It also said the positive cases have not affected Wentzville’s back to school plans.
The Wentzville School District’s spokesperson also confirmed the school board voted to regain its power. As a result, if the district decides to move to another phase, the entire school board will get a chance to weigh in and vote on the move, not solely Superintendent Dr. Curtis Cain.