Milwaukee Public Schools voted this week to extend virtual learning another week, after making the last-minute decision to not have in-person classes following Winter Break, which Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI-08) said is based on “outdated science.”
Gallagher explained in an interview with Fox Business that he is concerned about students falling behind. Gallagher said, “In Milwaukee, 66% of kids tested in the lowest category of math…they’re now falling further behind. We have to keep schools open.”
The Milwaukee Public School District has extended remote learning through January 18, citing outdated science.
As Rep. Gallagher said, "In Milwaukee, 66% of kids tested in the lowest category of math…they're now falling further behind. We have to keep schools open." pic.twitter.com/FWrEIjhJtr
— Rep. Gallagher Press Office (@RepGallagher) January 7, 2022
The Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) were set to reopen for in-person learning on January 10, after the start date had been pushed from January 3 to January 10, however, the school board voted to extend the virtual learning period.
A statement on the MPS website said that the extension was decided “due to the current state of COVID-19 cases throughout the district, all classes will remain virtual at this time.”
According to FOX 6, during the meeting where the vote took place, there was about an hour set aside for parents and community members to share their thoughts. The meeting was held online because MPS buildings “remain closed to the public,” a notice from the district about the meeting noted.
One parent, Patricia Wilson, told the board, “They learn more when they are in person than they do at home. One, when they at home, they ain’t really doing nothing but laying down. They try to engage, but it’s not doing too good.”
Only a single school board member, Megan O’Halloran, voted against the extension. She said, “I think we’re making a really broad decision without drilling down on the data. Overall, the numbers are large. I get that, overall, the numbers are large. But at the local level, some of the schools are not.”
According to MPS’ weekly COVID report, 741 staff and 360 students have tested positive for COVID since December 31. This, despite the district’s initiatives to vaccinate the student population.
MPS previously had a COVID vaccine incentive program that ended November 15 for students aged 12 and up. They are now offering students aged 5 to 11 $100 if they are vaccinated against COVID by January 14.
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Hayley Feland is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun and The Wisconsin Daily Star | Star News Network. Follow Hayley on Twitter or like her Facebook page. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “Fratney Elementary School” by Milwaukee Public Schools.
