GREEN BAY, Wis (NBC 26) -- Multiple school districts across northeast Wisconsin welcomed back students this week, in some form, for in-person learning in the classroom. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Area Public School District remains 100 percent virtual for now, despite about 60 percent of parents opting for in-person learning according to the district.
The last time the majority of Green Bay's students saw the inside of a classroom was last spring. For most parents, it's been a trying ten months for them and their kids.
Several parents NBC26 spoke with say virtual learning is far from a perfect scenario, but some also believe the Green Bay Area Public School district is making the best of a bad situation.
"I don't want to send my child back into a school situation where she may be surrounded by families that don't follow the same levels of protocols we do," says Kimberly Meader the mother of a 1st-grade student in the GBAPSD.
"I don't think we would go back to school until we have been vaccinated and our teachers have been vaccinated," adds Karen Eckberg the mother of two children in the GBAPSD.
But with several neighboring school districts opening their doors for in-person learning now or soon, other parents who are growing tired of waiting, are starting to consider other solutions.
"if I homeschooled her, she would be learning and she wouldn't have to sit in front of a screen for eight hours a day," says Kiana Rivera the mother of a 3rd grader in the GBAPSD.
"If by the next board meeting Green Bay doesn't have something set in stone for our students to go back, I will be leaving the district. We will pack our family up and move to a different city," adds Stephanie Reimer the mother of four children in the GPAPSD.
Many other parents though are continuing to ask the GBAPSD's Board to give families the option of sending their children to class in-person, to some degree.
"I feel like at this point it should be our choice as a parent to know what is best for your child," Rivera.
And while opinions vary widely for each family, with COVID-19 still looming and its long term impacts still up for debate, it's clear that parents just want what's best for their kids.
"While they (children) may not have serious implications with COVID, we also don't have long term knowledge. My choice would be, I would prefer to keep my child home where I know I can keep her safe," says Meader.
"What I don't understand is why we are not allowed to have the choice," asks Reimer.
