Parents turning to private school as some public districts go at least partially virtual

WYFF News 4 Investigates spoke with several families who are choosing to send their children to private schools so the children will be in class 5 days a week.

COUNTY JOE.YEAH, GOOD EVENING.NIGEL AND CAROL.WE’RE OUTSIDE SOUTH SIDECHRISTIAN SCHOOL RIGHT NOW LIKEOTHER PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THEAREA.HERE’S A GROWING WAIT LIST FROMGROWING INTEREST PARENTS FED UPWITH ONLINE LEARNING AND TRYINGTO WORK AND TEACH FROM HOME.THEY’RE FED UP AND THEY’RELOOKING ELSEWHERE PAYING DEARLY.THE START OF A NEW SCHOOL YEARWOULD LOOK DIFFERENT FOR HERDAUGHTER’S SHE DIDN’T COUNT ONPULLING THREE OF THEM OUT OFPUBLIC SCHOOL AND PUTTING THEMIN PRIVATE SCHOOL.WE WERE STILL GOING TO HAVE TOPAY SOMEONE TO FACILITATE THEE-LEARNING HAVING FOUR KIDS ATHOME AND TWO WORKING PARENTS.IT JUST ISN’T FEASIBLE.BENTLEY SAYS SHE LOST FAITH INGREENVILLE COUNTY SCHOOLSBLAMING THE DISTRICT FOR WHATSHE CALLED DISORGANIZATION ALACK OF COMMUNICATION.WE’VE LOVED IT.AND IT’S SAD THAT WE’RE HAVINGTO LEAVE, BUT WE WERE FORCED TOMAKE ANOTHER ANOTHER CHOICEJENNIFER OWENS.ALSO PLANNING TO PLUCK HER KIDSOUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL DUE TO WHATSHE CALLED DISTRICT-WIDE ANDDECISION.IT WAS MORE SO OUT OF TRYING TOGET SOME NORMALCY BACK FOR THEMBECAUSE IT’S BEEN HARD NOTHAVING THE STRUCTURE THAT THEYNEED JESSE CARLISLE FELT THESAME WAY.IT DIDN’T MAKE SENSE FOR ME TOHAVE TO QUIT MY JOB, YOU KNOW TODO VIRTUAL SCHOOL WITH MY SON.THAT WASN’T FAIR TO ME.I’M NOT A TEACHER.I DIDN’ GO TO SCHOOL, TOO.WE DO HAVE SOME SOME PARENTSTHAT ARE THAT ARE NEW STUDENT,YOU KNOW BRINGING THEIR STUDENTSHERE FOR THE FIRST TIME.AND SOME OF IT IS BECAUSE OFTHIS KYLE BOILS IS HEAD OFSCHOOL AT OAK BROOK PREP ANDSPARTANBURG COUNTY.HE’S NOTICED FULLER WAIT LISTSAND MORE PARENTS MAKING THESWITCH TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, BUTTHE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHCAROLINA EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONWORRIES THESE DECISIONS TO COUNTOUT PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATIONCOULD BACKFIRE CAN HAVE ADEVASTATING IMPACT ON YOURFUNDING AND YOU’RE TEACHINGRATIOS.LIKE WE HIRE TEACHERS BASED ONTHE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN THAT WEHAVE IN THE SYSTEM IN THEMEANTIME, KARI BENTLEY SAID SFOR THOSE WHO CAN’T AFFORD.THE ALTERNATIVE THOSE WHO AREFALLING BEHIND, YOU KNOW, THEYMAY NEVER RECOVER FROM THIS.THEY MAY NEVER CATCH UP.PARENTS.WE SPOKE WITH TODAY SAY THEY’REHAVING TO SHELL OUT THOUSANDS OFDOLLARS.I’M HAVING TO DIP INTO THEIR 529SAVINGS PLAN FOR COLLEGE OTHERSRELYING ON RELATIVES TO HELPFOOT THOSE COSTS FOR PRIVATESCHOOL.WE DIDN’T REACH OUT TOGREENVILLE COUNTY SCHOOLS ASWELL FOR COMMENT ON THIS STORY.YOU COULD READ THEIR FULLRESPONSE WYFF4.COM.WE’RE LIVE