Board votes to allow some Johnston County students to return to classroom

Some Johnston County students can expect to be in the classroom in about three weeks. School board members voted unanimously on Tuesday to allow a small number of students to return earlier than expected.

Like many districts across the state, all learning is taking place online, but in about a month, elementary school students will be back in the classroom. Pre-kindergartners will be back in about three weeks.

The virtual learning experience has been anything but easy for parents like Samantha Petrucci.

"All in all, it's keeping them safe, and it's keeping them – it's still in school, so I guess it's OK," she described.

She’s anxiously waiting for the day her third- and fifth-grade children return to the classroom.

Board leaders approved a plan Tuesday to allow some students to enter the building in a staggered approach.

"As a result of the governor easing some of those restrictions, I am comfortable recommending that a small number of our students be allowed to school earlier? than we anticipated," said Dr. Eric Bracy, the superintendent for Johnston County Public Schools.

Kindergartners will return Oct. 12, while first- through fifth-graders will return Oct. 19. School officials are still working on plans for sixth- through 12th- graders.

In-person learning will take place on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday each week. Remote learning is scheduled on Wednesdays.

"Virtual learning is here to stay in some shape or fashion, but at our core, we are face-to-face instructors," said Bracy.

Petrucci said she felt comfortable with the decision.

“I feel pretty confident that it's going to be all right," she said.

Parents who prefer remote learning will still have that option.