Moore Public School Parent Expresses Concerns As District Continues In-Person Learning Amid COVID Spike

As positive COVID-19 cases continue to rise, many school districts across the metro and state have either transitioned to virtual learning or canceled classes for a few days.

However, students and parents are concerned that Moore Public Schools has not followed suit.

Parents like Chassady Waldo were so concerned that they organized a protest to transition to virtual learning back in August.

"The board was unsympathetic,” Waldo said. “We had pregnant teachers crying and begging to go online because there were no ways to socially distance properly. We even took pictures of the classrooms, so we (could) demonstrate that they couldn't socially distance. They showed no emotion."

Waldo said the same issue is happening today.

"About two months into the new semester," Waldo said. “We realized this issue wasn't disappearing.”

That's when Waldo and her son made the decision to pull out of the district. He is now being homeschooled.

News 9 reached out to Moore Public Schools about its decision to continue in-person learning.

 "MPS has felt the impact of an increase in absences for both our employees and students, but not all absences are COVID-related,” the district statement said. “That said, other districts are having a challenge filling absences for teachers, administrators and possibly other support areas. Each of our 35 school sites follow Moore Public Schools health and safety protocols; however, we are flexible enough to look at each site’s need individually, and make the best decision with their site’s outlook in-mind. At this time, we will continue to hold in-person learning. We have managed the current absenteeism challenge being faced by all districts head-on, with our administrators and professional support team members filling in for positions everywhere around the district from cafeterias to substitutes in classrooms.

“That said, Dr. Romines and his leadership team are constantly monitoring not only our absenteeism numbers but also the reasons behind the numbers. Strep, flu, allergies, and other ailments commonly seen during the winter season, but especially coming off of a two-week winter break, are heavy on the list of reasons for MPS absences. Our elementary and secondary principals report to their administrative supervisors twice each day with the outlook at their sites in terms of absences and needs.”

As of now, parents and guardians have had the option of in-person, or virtual learning. Details can be found on the district's Return to Learn: Continuation of Services page by clicking here.