Milwaukee school board delays decision on in-person learning

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee School District is delaying their plan to bring kids back for in-person learning.

They voted in a special meeting Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The district wanted to continue preparing for a possible return in January that would depend on the status of the pandemic.

But with a spike in cases right now, the board wasn't comfortable taking that step. 

"There is no easy solution," said Superintendent Dr. Keith Posley. 

He was asking the board to allow the district to move forward with plans for the possible January return.

"We have to start thinking about how do we make that transition, and when do we make that transition," Dr. Posley said. 

The plan would have been a combination of at-home and in-person learning, but it was met with overwhelming pushback.

"I'm speaking against this item," said one of many teachers and parents who spoke up at the meeting.

One after another, they told the board that even considering bringing kids back is a bad idea.

"Please ease anxiety, prevent teacher burnout, listen to the science," said another teacher.

"A few hours ago, Tony Evers asked Wisconsinites to voluntarily shelter in place and self impose lockdown. MPS is in no position to move forward," one teacher said.

The district said they would have plans in place like physical distancing, staggering in-person days and deep cleaning. They say other schools have done it with success.

But the board wasn't buying it, and with cases still rising, they didn't want to send the wrong message to the public.

They worried that even planning for a possible return would send the wrong message.

In the end, the board voted to hold off on any decision until at least January.

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