MNPS will continue virtual learning until fall break

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Most Metro Nashville Public School students will continue learning at home beyond the district's expected Labor Day in-person reopening. Students will continue to learn virtually until fall break.

Exceptional education students at special needs schools would return to in-person learning, but traditional students will continue to learn virtually until Oct. 9.

If school officials decide students are safe to return to in-person classes after fall break, they will return to schools in a phased-in approach.

Schools Director Dr. Adrienne Battle made her recommendations during Tuesday night's school board meeting, saying they were based on the continued number of cases the city and district have seen.

“Positive test rates and new cases are higher than we want to see," said Dr. Battle.

"Given the continued high rate of spread, I think it is prudent to remain in a phased approach and remain in the current virtual setting for at least the end of the first quarter on October 1," Battle said.

Even though all students have been learning virtually since August 4, a total of 247 MNPS employees have had to be isolated or quarantined and 94 have tested positive.

Kindergarten through 5th-grade students (or ages 5 to 12) and the children of Metro Schools employees can enroll in a YMCA program after Labor Day that will provide our students with supervision and support for virtual learning.

Metro Schools locations are:

• Taylor Stratton Elementary, 310 W Old Hickory Blvd, Madison, TN 37115
• Jones Padeia Elementary, 1800 9th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37208
• Hattie Cotton Elementary, 1033 W Greenwood Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
• Glencliff Elementary, 120 Antioch Pike, Nashville, TN 37211
• Andrew Jackson Elementary, 110 Shute Ln, Old Hickory, TN 37138
• Waverly-Belmont Elementary, 2301 10th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
• Tusculum Elementary, 440 McMurray Dr, Nashville, TN 37211
• Camp Widjiwagan, 3088 Smith Springs Rd, Antioch, TN 37013

For more information on the YMCA partnership, click here.

MNPS announced back in July that its 86,000 students would learn remotely until at least Labor Day, and they would reevaluate from there.

Director of Schools Dr. Adrienne Battle made the recommendations during Tuesday night's school board meeting. Several factors go into making the decision.

For one, Nashville remains in its modified Phase Two of reopening, which calls for schools to remain closed.

While Mayor John Cooper has yet to announce any plans to move into a new phase, the district would make that decision with input of Dr. Alex Jahangir, the chair of the city's Coronavirus Task Force.

If the city moves into Phase Three, students would be allowed to come back and have in-person classes, but with strict social distancing guidelines in place.

As for fall high school sports, Battle says she will be having conversations with coaches on the feasibility of a fall season, including high school football. For now, Metro Schools football teams are allowed to proceed with nothing more than non-contact group conditioning.

"Over the next days and weeks we will continue that dialogue given the current COVID context," Battle said. "If conditions allow our options to completing seasons or if the final decision will be cancellation."