Lake County school board pushes back start date
Lake County school board members said they're experts in education, not health at a virtual meeting on Monday.
However, they said they've been working closely with the health department to come up with a reopening plan.
Part of that plan includes pushing the first day of school back one week to Aug. 17.
When on the school bus, students and drivers will have to wear masks and buses will be disinfected with special machines.
Though the board would like to have fewer students on buses, they said they don't have enough drivers.
Once at school, it was suggested students not be required to wear masks when there is space to social distance.
With virtual learning also an option, the school board says there will be fewer students and teachers will have more space.
One parent said it is too hot to make children wear a mask at all.
"That is our right not to impede our children's breathing. If you want to wear a mask good you wear it," the parent said.
However, the vast majority of teachers, parents and students said it's too soon to reopen because so much unknown and so much is at stake.
The department of health did warn the school board that if there's an outbreak in a school, the whole school would have to shut down.