Rochester Parents To Hold ‘Return To Class’ Demonstration

Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - Some parents of Rochester Public Schools students will brave the chilly weather Tuesday in hopes of gaining support for a complete return to in-person learning.

Tuesday’s resumption of the district’s hybrid model will only include PreK - 2nd-grade students. And that has upset some parents who want ALL students back in the classroom.

An organized group plans to hold a "peaceful demonstration" outside the district’s administration building at 5:30 PM Tuesday that will coincide with the school board’s meeting. They issued a statement that says in part:

 “We believe that in-person school is and can be safe for students, teachers, and staff with proper PPE and precautions. “

According to the statement:

“The purpose of the demonstration is to ask the RPS School Board to move our students to full-time in-person learning."

The parents say they are united in these beliefs:

• We believe in science and understand that COVID-19 is real.
• We believe that in-person learning is what’s best for all children.
• We are worried about learning loss, the learning gap between different socioeconomic groups, social isolation, increase in sedentary screen time, truancy, rising obesity, and the detriment to children’s mental health, social and emotional well-being. At this point, these matters are much more of a risk to our children’s well-being than the risk of COVID-19.
• We support our teachers, are grateful for our teachers, and worry about the added stress that hybrid and distance learning place on our teachers.
• We believe that in-person school is and can be safe for students, teachers, and staff with proper PPE and precautions. “

News update: Rochester selected as test site for new Minnesota Covid vaccine program.