Dozens of schools push back against full-time in-person learning deadline School officials say they had been planning later return Share Updated: 6:25 PM EDT Apr 7, 2021 School officials say they had been planning later return Share Updated: 6:25 PM EDT Apr 7, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE. TONIGHT AT LEAST ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS REFUSING TO GO BACK APRIL 19. >> WE DID SEND A LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONER THIS MORNING INDICATING THE BOARD’S DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A FULL RETURN ON MAY 3. AMY: THE SCHOOL BOARD MADE THE DECISION. MANY SCHOOL LEADERS ARE WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED TO LOCAL CONTROL. SUPERINTENDENTS REMEMBER A TWEET FROM THE GOVERNOR LAST SUMMER ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL CONTROL IN THIS CRISIS. >> THEN SUDDENLY THIS CAME OUT AND IT WASN’T LOCAL CONTROL. AND IT TOOK CONTROL AWAY FROM OUR LOCALLY CONTROLLED AND ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD. AMY: MANCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AMONG MORE THAN 20 THAT APPLIED FOR A WAIVER TO THE ORDER. CITING VACCINE CONCERNS FOR STAFF AND TEACHERS AND INVOKING FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS. >> A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYESS HAVE ADA ACCOMMODATIONS UNDER FEDERAL GUIDELINES, THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COME BACK UNTIL THEY’VE HAD THEIR VACCINATION AND HAVE THE FULL IMMUNITY. >> WE’RE CONCERNED. THE NUMBERS ARE AS HIGH AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. AMY: SAU 9 IN CONWAY WAS FORCED TO GO FULL REMOTE THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF A SPIKE IN CASES. THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS BEEN TARGETING MAY 3 FOR IN PERSON INSTRUCTION FULL TIME. SO THE QUESTION IS WHY NOW? >> WHAT WE WERE BEGINNING TO SEE IS A BIT OF A TIPPING POINT AND THERE WERE RISING CONCERNS AROUND STUDENT MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. AMY: TODAY, THE DEPT. OF EDUCATION RELEASED THIS SIXTY POINT Q AND A DOCUMENT TO HELP SCHOOLS NAVIGATE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE GOVERNOR’S ORDER AND IF THEY SHOULD APPLY FOR A WAIVER. LATE TODAY WE REACHED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE ABOUT CONSEQUENCES IF THE ORDER IS IGNORED. WE HAVE NOT HEARD