In the months leading up to the school year, Leah Whitaker searched for ways Evansville Day School students could learn in-person while safely maintaining the school's "learn through play" educational plan.
The risks of the novel coronavirus forced Whitaker and other EDS administrators to seek other instructional options for the school's reopening.
Read MoreThe first day of school always feels like a leap of faith, even in the best of circumstances.
In neighborhoods across the country, hundreds of children pour into buildings short on funding and long on need, looking to come out the other side better educated and ready to move on to bigger things.
So it's understandable that Wednesday morning felt like a hail mary.
Read MoreAs COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the days leading up to the first day of school for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp., so do the number of families shifting to online learning.
EVSC spokesman Jason Woebkenberg said Tuesday more than 1,700 students are enrolled in the EVSC Virtual Academy, a program that normally has between 75-100 students each year. That's an increase of at least 1,600% or as much as 2,167%.
Read MoreAlthough Indiana's top marching bands won't battle it out this year on the statewide level, the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. will set the stage for local schools to perform this fall.
On Sept.12 at Central High School and Sept. 19 at North High School EVSC will hold showcases for the district's marching bands to put their routines on display.
Read MoreGiven a choice between in-person and virtual learning, most Signature School families have opted for face-to-face instruction. And while Principal Jean Hitchcock is excited for the students to return on Wednesday, she said their safety remains the school's top priority.
Along with rearranging desks and taping off instructional areas with measuring sticks, Hitchcock said Signature will live-stream classes for families opting to learn from home.
Read MoreThe Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. has purchased thousands of protective personal equipment (PPE) items for the upcoming school year, and while that is not enough to allay all families' fears, parent Hannah Reagan says it has provided a sense of reassurance.
Read MoreDuring a nearly two-hour long Facebook Live presentation Tuesday evening, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. Superintendent David Smith outlined more information about the district's new reopening plan.
Smith went through the expansive plan, which includes pages of updated safety measures, health guidelines and other information concerning the start of the school year.
Read MoreAs a concerned parent, Sloane Standley said more families should consider placing their children in virtual learning academies this school year.
After the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. announced its reopening plans, calling for schools to welcome back all students for traditional instruction on Aug. 19, Standley decided to move her children, Leighton and Maddox Beasley, from their schools to an online-learning program.
Read More