BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — All K-12 students in New Hampshire will soon have the option to attend weekly in-person classes on a part-time basis.
Governor Chris Sununu announced Thursday he intends to sign an executive order requiring all schools in the state to offer the option of in-person learning at least two days per week. He said the executive order will go into effect March 8th.
"I’ve long said we need to get our kids back in the classroom, and today’s action is a step in the right direction," Sununu said. "The data is there, the will of the kids is there, the will of the parents is there, and that’s what we are doing at the state level."
New Hampshire is currently in Phase 1b of its coronavirus vaccination plan. Teachers are included in the next group, when Phase 2a begins, which is anticipated between March and May.
Even without complete teacher vaccination, Gov. Sununu said schools can reopen safely, and he said there are some teachers who are now eligible to receive their first COVID-19 vaccine dose.
"At the state level, we have prioritized our most vulnerable first," Sununu said. "Any teacher 65 plus, or with underlying health conditions, can book their vaccine today."
As WBZ-TV reports, Sununu said nearly 60 percent of K-12 schools are currently offering a hybrid in-person and virtual learning model, around 40 percent of schools have in-person learning five days a week, and there are only "a few" schools in the state that are still operating fully-remote.
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Written by Brit Smith
(Photo: Getty Images)