ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants schools back at full capacity by August, but some local parents have differing opinions on whether they think that’s a good idea.
Rising senior Carson Kendrick and his younger brother Brandon ended up having to adjust to distance learning like millions of other Florida students.
"It was different,” said their father Kevin Kendrick. “It was difficult for our youngest just because he is a face-to-face learner."
READ: Gov. DeSantis announces plan to reopen Florida schools by fall semester
Kevin is ready to send them back in August.
"I support it and my boys are excited to go back to school and I have confidence in the Orange County schools that they're going to put the precautions in place to keep our kids safe,” he said.
DeSantis said in-person education is needed for Florida’s economy and also for its students.
The "COVID-slide," he said, resulted in some kids falling further behind and expanding the education gap.
But Mikaela Walker, mother to a middle schooler and an elementary schooler, said she is worried about health.
She said she reviewed the governor's 143 page document, but noticed that each district really has control on how to implement a fall plan.
“I expected a little more direction to come from him,” she said.
She said at this point she doesn’t plan to send her middle schooler back to on-campus schooling in the fall. She said she’s still on the fence for her younger son.
Orange County Public Schools has already discussed different scenarios for next school year.
Orange County's survey showed 37% of parents are OK with returning kids to school with safety measures in place.
READ: Florida surpasses 70,000 COVID-19 cases, over 2,800 deaths, health officials say
Wendy Doromal, president of the teacher's union in Orange County, said her members are concerned, especially now that COVID-19 cases are going up in the state.
"(DeSantis’) push to reopen, reopen right in August, is a little astounding since there is no vaccine, schools are unprepared,” Doromal said.
She said she expects classroom modifications and is concerned with already crowded classrooms and a lack of school nurses.
Doromal said she doesn't think the governor’s estimated $1 billion will be enough to make needed changes. Neither does Dan Smith, the head of the teacher's union in Seminole County.
"There's a lot of uncertainty, there's a lot of anxiety with this going on and waiting on a decision,” he said.
Both districts already set up task forces to discuss fall reopen options and are now reviewing the governor’s guidance to create their plans.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
