GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) -- One of the most voiced concerns against the Green Bay school board's decision to opt for fully virtual, off-site instruction to start the 2020-2021 school year was how working parents are expected to teach their students at home.
"Frankly, it's overwhelming," Rachel Hernandez, a GBAPS parent said. "I work full time and I'm grateful that I'm in a position that lets me work from home during this pandemic. That being said, the thought of doing my full time job while also facilitating the education of my two children is absolutely terrifying."
A concept going around regional parent groups online, especially Facebook, is called podding. It's where small groups of families collectively use a private teacher or tutor like a nanny-share, and gather kids in small groups at family homes to have micro-class structure on a safer level during the coronavirus pandemic.
"One of the things I most value about the school that my kids go to is that there's a mix of incomes, a mix of ethnicities, and backgrounds that go to that school, and I want to make sure my children still have that diverse experience even if its virtual," Hernandez said. "I realize that one of the limitations of podding is that it self selects families who are able to make that financial sacrifice."
Hernandez is also looking toward Green Bay's higher education institutions for inspiration.
"My husband and I have also been discussing, do we look a college student or part-time college student maybe who's in the area who would have some time to do that facilitation of the education for our children?" Hernandez asked.
Others are looking internally. Erin Pennings' mom is a retired teacher moving here from Alaska to teach her grandkids while they opted for the Unified District of De Pere's virtual model.
"She'll just hang out for a month or two this fall, and we'll just see," Pennings said. "I think a lot of its just playing by ear. But she wants to be closer to the grandkids, and its the opportunity to bring in what she knows."
Both moms are thankful to have the virtual structure in place to avoid sending their kids back to school in person.
"There's a lot of people who don't have the option," Pennings said. "So why not have one fewer person in the buildings?"
