"We have to put our children's best interest first and in my heart I truly believe that if we allow our grandchildren and our kids to go to school on the day that you all plan to go back to school I don't think they'll be safe," said Pamela Tebow.
Big decisions were made Wednesday night at the Lafayette Parish School Board meeting when it came to the parish's reopening plan.
Despite calls and a motion to delay the start of school until after Labor Day, the board voted to go ahead with classes on August 17th.
The question then was, in what form?
The board discussed if students would start school virtually or if they would follow the hybrid model proposed at last week's meeting. Ultimately, members voted to use the hybrid method. At the end of the hours-long meeting, board members approved the full proposed reopening plan.
The highly anticipated agenda item brought in a large crowd. Overflow seated designated in the hallway was at capacity. Board members in the room were separated behind Plexiglas. Parents and teachers showed up to make their voices heard.
"Half of us in here might have coronavirus and we don't even know because if you don't get tested you might be in here with the coronavirus because just looking at you or looking at me, you can't tell if I have it or if you have it," grandparent Pamela Tebow said.
"I'm sorry to speak in these terms but if we collectively decide to reopen, the blood of those who die will be on our hands because we reopened too early," commented parent Christopher George.
"The Board of Elementary Education's guidelines states that rooms must be disinfected between groups but the LPSS plan does not address that. The list goes on and on about logistical issues that schools will face trying to reopen," said teacher Kegan Peterson.
"We closed March April and May. There is no harm in delaying a few more months until we learn more about this disease," added George.
The meeting wrapped up shortly after 10 p.m. Watch the meeting below:
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