VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The Virginia Beach City Public Schools superintendent will recommend starting this school year with virtual learning.

Going back to school will be based on public health metrics, and will include a transition to face-to-face instruction, with virtual learning remaining an option for those families who prefer it, Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence wrote in a memo Thursday.

“This has been an incredibly challenging decision,” Spence said.

Next Tuesday, the school board will be officially presented with the plan for next year. The school board has not said if they will vote that night or at another time.

Virginia Beach teachers are planning to have a pep rally in the parking lot before the board’s July 28 public hearing. 

“We know that times are uncertain. We know that every day that passes without knowing what school will look like only adds stressors to our community. But here are some certainties: Regardless of how the school year unfolds, we will teach our students. We will make sure they are fed. We will do everything in our power to meet their social and emotional needs. We will do whatever we can to support everyone in this VBSchools family. Our mission to educate and prepare future global citizens has not changed, even if the logistics for safely doing so may have to,” Spence wrote.

Click here to read the full plan

Spence’s recommendation comes as COVID-19 cases have surged in Virginia, particularly in Hampton Roads.

Virginia reported 844 new COVID-19 cases and 3 new deaths linked to the disease on Thursday, with Hampton Roads reporting its fourth straight day of decreasing cases, with 0 new deaths.

Cases are trending upward, overall.

In the fall 2020 plan, it was recommended that schools could be open — with appropriate safety measures in place — as long as Eastern Virginia isn’t in the “red zone.”

The zones are as follows:

  • Green: mild, less than 5% 7-day positivity rate, <10/100,000 cases per week (less than 26.5 cases per day)
  • Yellow: mild-moderate, 5% to less than 10% , 10-100/100,000 cases per week (26.5 – 264 cases per day), and
  • Red: substantial >10%., 100+/100,000 cases per week (265 or more cases per day),

Spence says he’d love to get kids back in the classroom but the timing has to be right. He says this virtual learning will look different than it did in the spring.

“One of the things during the virtuously leading is that grading wasn’t part of it. That will change so grading and assessment will be a part of it”

Spence says students will also be on a daily schedule which will include live sessions with a teacher.

“Our intention is that with students whether they are in a virtual environment or in a face-to-face setting they have a daily schedule with time with a teacher with assignments that are graded,” Spence said.

School officials are working to make sure all families have access to WiFi. Spence says the amount of tablets for students shouldn’t be an issue.

Parents will also have to chose before year starts whether to have kids go back to school when possible or to continue to stay virtual the rest of the year.

“We are dealing with things that nobody has had to deal with and we’re making this place as i said there is not one right way to do it.”

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