APPLETON, Wis (NBC 26) -- With two of northeast Wisconsin's largest school districts, Green Bay and Appleton, starting the year off with 100 percent virtual learning many parents and students are struggling with the new format.
Just weeks before the Appleton Area School District planned on allowing kids to return to class, they switched gears, asking parents to alter their plans.
"We have six kids in the Appleton Area School District, one in high school, one in junior high and four in elementary," says Joe Kelly a father from Appleton with six children in the school district.
Kelly says his older kids are doing all right with the new format, but it's his elementary-aged children that need quite a bit of assistance from their parents.
"The teachers are trying their hardest but it's by no means the education they need... The requirements are pretty brutal for the parents because for elementary we have to be there. If we didn't have my wife at home I'm not sure what we would do. "
And that seems to be a common problem for elementary-aged students who are tackling virtual learning.
"It is a struggle for families. People balancing their work schedules as well as trying to be there for the children to help with the instruction," says Kay Eggert the Appleton Area School District's Board of Education President.
Eggert says she has heard the concerns from parents of elementary-aged students and some of the struggles they are experiencing.
"Some students are doing well and fine with it and that's great. In general, the younger the students, the more challenging it is."
Eggert says her board continues discussing how to bring kids back to the classroom, calling it her number one priority.
"Our kids do the best when they are in person."
But that doesn't mean that all parents are comfortable with the current game plan. Kelly expresses how his family would like to see the Appleton Area School District set the standard for how schools react to COVID concerns.
"We're the biggest district in the area. We should be leading the way with competence," says Kelly.
Currently, the AASD is leaning on local health care leaders to guide the district as to when COVID-19 cases are trending down and in turn, it's safe once again for students to return to class in Appleton.
"The best relief is going to be when we can get those kids back in school safely. All the districts around our area are doing it to the extent where they have waiting lists," says Kelly.
"It is difficult because we want to see the numbers going in the other direction. We are going to prepare and be ready so when it is feasible, we can get the students back," adds Eggert.
Appleton's School Board President says the board continues preparing for kids to return to the classroom. She adds by the time the decision is made parents will likely get a two-week notice before returning to class.
