Roanoke Rapids students march to demand in-person classes for high school

Organizers Michela Broadnax and Daniel Acree estimated that about 100 people gathered outside the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District central office on Hamilton Street, carrying signs that said "Return to learn" and "Not everyone learns the same." Many of them were high school students.

The two students told WRAL News that the district decision is "unfair" and questioned why the school board did not survey parents or students for input.

We want all students collectively to be given the opportunity to learn in both ways virtually and face-to-face, so everyone has the option to have a successful learning process," they wrote.

In response, a school district spokesman provided this statement:

We have spent a great deal of time the past few months considering what school will look like in the fall. We want to create a quality and meaningful learning experience for all of our students, while also making sure we maintain a safe learning environment.  We initially surveyed parents in June regarding our various plans for reopening.

Our district is greatly limited by the state’s COVID-19 mandates.

These include transportation requirements, classroom social distance requirements, and a host of other directives.

The RRGSD Board of Trustees adopted a plan Tuesday that allows for full in-person learning for students in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade using all existing school buildings, a virtual model for pre-K-8 students seeking remote instruction, and a similar robust online learning program for students in grades 9-12.

Since the adoption of this plan, we’ve had additional feedback from high school parents wanting some face-to-face instruction. We are currently working with community partners to repurpose some area buildings to support daily instruction.