DeKalb County School Board decides delayed start for the fall, virtual learning

DeKalb County Schools gave a first glimpse at the upcoming fall semester during a board meeting Monday.

Channel 2′s Matt Johnson was outside the DeKalb County headquarters in Decatur where the board recommended delaying class and keeping the doors closed.

The board approved delaying the start of the school year to start on Aug. 17. Previously the school year was set to begin on Aug. 3. The district also took a survey of parents, students and employees about their comfort level returning.

Several metro Atlanta school districts already have announced plans to delay the start of the school year to allow more time to prepare for a school year that will feel immediate impact from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. School buildings were shuttered in March as officials worked on plans to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Seventy percent of employees felt uncomfortable about returning to a traditional in-person model. Most students were uncomfortable with returning to school with distance or virtual learning only. Read more here.

>>MORE on AJC.com about back-to-school plans for various counties across the state.