More than two months after the school year began, students in the Rock Island district will actually go to school for the first time. Since classes opened in August, students have been attending remotely, but many will report for in-person instruction beginning on Monday.
Superintendent Reginald Lawrence says the schools have been cleaned and sanitized, classrooms have been arranged to keep students apart, and hand sanitizer stations have been installed.
Students must wear masks and have their temperatures checked every morning.
"Everyone wants to have their children back in school, parents want to get back to work, employers want their employees back to work as well. Everyone wants to go back to the malls and stores and you know just back to normal."
Students began their classes remotely at the beginning of August, hoping to start in-person learning after Labor Day. But with COVID not yet under control, he decided remote classes would continue through the end of the first quarter, earlier this month.
Children whose last names begin with the letters A through L will go the school on Mondays and Tuesdays, while M through Z students will attend Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesdays will be a remote learning day for all.