Concerns over Gulfport Schools’ reopening plan

The Gulfport School District plans to reopen in just under two weeks, giving parents and guardians the option to send their children to school for classroom instruction or to learn online.

- two weeks-giving parents and- guardians the option to - send their children to school - for classroom - instruction or to learn online,- but as news 25's toni miles - shows - us, a number of parents,- - - - grandparents, guardians and - community members are concerned- over the options- presented.- - gayle tart, attorney & gulfport- resident: - "we want the schools to reopen, but at what cost?"

The question lingering on the - minds of these concerned- citizens in gulfport who- gathered friday at the 19th - street community center -many o- them parents and- grandparents of students in the- gulfport school system.

- rochelle durr is one of them.

- rochelle durr, grandparent: "i really don't think school shoul- start right now.- i think they should wait 2021 - until they have had ample - opportunities work out- all of the kinks-all of the - different concerns we as parent- and grandparents, as a- community have."

- - - angela ellis: "do we expect to go to school-everybody goes to- school, and - everything's going to be fine?- everybody who goes to school is- going to come out and - nobody's going to get this- thing, and nobody's going to di- from it?

We know for a- - - - fact that students and teachers- will die from going back to - school this year."

Sandra wyche has two high - school-aged grandchildren in- the gulfport school district.

- while they are opting for the - on-line alternative for - the school year, she's concerne- about those who will actually - attend school - and believes th- health risk for them-and those- beyond the classroom-is gravely- serious.- sandra wyche, grandmother:- "there's a covid spike in gulfport.

Now - they're shutting down bars.

If- you're going to shut down bars,- - - - shut down schools."

Bettie ewing, grandmother and- great-grandmother: "we would like the- superintendent to just stop, an- let's get together.

Let's make- some collective - decisions on how we're going to- return to school.

Right now it- - - - is too dangerous."

Attorney gayle tart has issued a letter- to gulfport - superintendent glenn east, and- other state and local leaders,- questioning the school- district's reopening and damage- mitigation plans.

- this group has been involved in- conversations with the- superintendent.

- a public meeting to address - these concerns for all those in- - - - the gulfport school district ha- been set to take place at the - school- district's administration - building, located on pass road- in- gulfport at 5 pm on august 3rd-- three days before the new - school year begins on august- 6th.- in gulfport, toni