By Linda Reeves - The Florida Catholic Palm Beach

MIAMI | The future of in-person classes at archdiocesan schools will depend on the pandemic situation, with the archdiocese reconsidering its decision Sept. 18, 2020.

“The decision to begin the 2020-2021 school year with only livestreamed classes or online instruction for grades K-12 was arrived at after considerable consultation with the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Catholic Conference, local health officials and feedback solicited from parents themselves,” Archbishop Thomas Wenski wrote in a letter to principals issued July 31, 2020.

He said the goal "is to reopen K-12 classrooms as soon as possible and in a safe manner.”

The Archdiocese of Miami, which encompasses Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties, provides education and faith development for nearly 34,000 students enrolled in 47 elementary schools, 12 high schools, one special needs institute, and one virtual school.

Since the summer, South Florida has been a pandemic epicenter in the United States, with coronavirus infections steadily on the rise. Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Broward counties remain in phase one of reopening after the lockdown in the spring, when residents were ordered to remain at home and only go out for essential activities.

Since Monroe County is in phase two of reopening, the archdiocese's only school there, the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Key West, did open for in-person instruction Aug. 19, 2020.  

On Aug. 5, the archdiocese did give the green light for an in-person re-opening of parish and school Pre-K programs. Parents were given the option to choose in-person or virtual education. The programs are required to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and the Early Learning Coalition. Their success at keeping children and staff healthy will be closely monitored.

“Our hope and prayers are that our experience with the Pre-K programs will allow for a phased reopening of other grades as well,” Archbishop Wenski said in the letter announcing that decision.

The conversation about sending youngsters back to school is taking place nationwide. President Donald Trump continues to push for schools to reopen regardless of coronavirus infection numbers. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also wants the reopening, saying parents should decide for themselves whether to send their children back into the classroom.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, told a Senate committee in June his advice on sending children back to school: "It really will depend on the dynamics in the particular location."

Public schools in Miami-Dade pushed back their start date to Aug. 31 and will start the year with online instruction only. Broward County schools also went all-virtual when they opened as scheduled Aug. 19.