The future of education in North Alabama

The future of education in North Alabama

-- i'm najahe sherman.

And i'm dan shaffer.

We want to begin with a question people across the state are asking.

What's in store for next school year?

This week - a task force is meeting in montgomery to figure out what the start of school will look like for students in alabama.

Waay 31's sophia borrelli found out - the dekalb county school district plans to have students back in class on august 7-th.

She explains what the superintendent and parents are hoping for next fall.

Sophia looklive: "school buses sit still in an empty parking lot - but these buses could be going to pick up students come august 7th here in dekalb county.

Jason barnett, dekalb county schools superintendent: "there's nothing that can replace the interaction between a teacher and students."

Dekalb county schools superintendent says the plan is for students in the county to be back inside schools in early august.

He says what that may look like - well - there's still more planning to be done.

Jason barnett, dekalb county schools superintendent: "we've talked a lot about lunch rooms, about transition times, transition times coming into the classroom, or into the school, how will students transition?

Will we have teachers transition more than student?"

Sherry mclaughlin, parent: "i'm ready."

One parent i spoke with said she wants her child to go back to school.

Sherry mclaughlin, parent: "this is something we are going to have to deal with from here on out and i think we might as well start school back and just jump right in and take it from there."

Shiloh mclaughlin, plainview elementary student: "i think i'm most ready for reading and everything, because i like reading books."

Barnett told me plans can change - depending on what the state recommends - and right now they're still working on hammering out some of the specifics, like how kids will social distance.

But he says they know they'll be ready for whatever comes their way.

Jason barnett, dekalb county schools superintendent: "we want to make sure that we have a plan in place for starting the school year and and for some reason if we have to go to a digital platform, for a day or two or weeks, or whatever we want to go ahead and have plans in place so that we can seamlessly do that next year."

Sophia looklive: "barnett told me he does anticipate more students will enroll in the dekalb virtual academy next year - which gives students the option to take classes online.

In rainsville - sophia borrelli waay 31 news."

Barnett also said the district is working to get personal protective equipment for students and staff - and at this point the district doesn't expect to change class