Virginia Education Association president says state schools need reset after Christmas break

The head of Virginia’s largest teachers group says students should not be in a classroom until mid-January while COVID cases remain at dangerous levels.

Education Association President James Fedderman said in a statement that those in charge of public schools including Governor Ralph Northam need to allow several weeks of virtual instruction after the Christmas holidays when community spread is likely to breed more COVID cases.

Data from the Department of Education says 98 of Virginia’s 132 school districts still have students in-person or in a hybrid schedule.

Most schools in Southwest Virginia have already directed students to online learning as virus infection rates continue to rise.

(IMAGE: B. Anderson / Associated Press)