Day one is in the books. So, what grade are students and parents giving Pinellas County Schools for its handling of in-person classes during amid the pandemic?
That depends on who you ask.
What You Need To Know
- 59.8% of Pinellas County students are attending traditional classes.
- 37.7% enrolled in MyPCS Online
- 2.5% enrolled in Pinellas Virtual School
"I'm feeling great. I've been waiting all summer for that human interaction. I think it's really important in education especially to have that face-to face interaction," Clearwater High School student Jayden Larocca said.
But one mother says the faces – are too close together. At least that’s what she saw Monday morning in the drop-off line at Cypress Woods Elementary in Palm Harbor.
"They're sitting inches apart. Is that going to change walking through a gate? Walking into a classroom? How is that going to change?,” Sarah Geigle asked rhetorically.
“Oh, all of a sudden we're six feet apart."
Another family said they saw a Pinellas County school bus driver behind the wheel without a mask. Some students say their classmates are removing their face coverings or not wearing them properly.
Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to the district for reaction and received a statement. It said:
"The district’s Transportation Department pulled the school bus video of Route 842 and the bus driver and bus assistant had their mask on at all times when students were on board. The drivers/assistants are allowed to take mask off if no one is on the school bus for a mask break. "