City decides on online-only start to the school year, County includes some in-person instruction

“We are not at all thinking that online is going to be easy; it will not be easy,” said Charlottesville Schools Superintendent Dr. Rosa Atkins

Now, at least, parents know what they have to plan for.

Both the Albemarle County and Charlottesville school systems have decided how they are going to open this year. Both School Boards voted for the plans that had been recommended by their respective Superintendents. For the first 9 weeks of school, the County is going mostly virtual [90%] with some in-person [10%], what’s being called Stage 2, and the City is going all virtual, which is being called Plan C. Schools in both the City and County will open September 8. Students and teachers under the County plan will participate in any in-person instruction on a volunteer basis.

According to a recent City survey that was presented, about 45% of families wanted online-only instruction, and a majority of school teachers and staff wanted that option as well. The survey indicated that a desire for online-only has been going up over the summer. “You need to trust your teachers, empower your teachers....they know what's best for themselves…