'They just need to be together:' Sac County parent group urges return of in-person learning Share Updated: 7:03 AM PST Feb 10, 2021 Share Updated: 7:03 AM PST Feb 10, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript OFFICIALS TONIGHT. MELANIE: STANDING WITH SIGNS ALONG WALNUT AVENUE IN CARMICHAEL. A SMALL BUT VOCAL PARENT AND STUDENT GROUP, TRYING TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE SAN JUAN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. WITTENBORG: IT IS IMPORTANT FO THESE KIDS THEY NEED IN-CLASS IN-PERSON LEARNING. MELANIE: JUST ONE, IN A GROWING NUMBER OF GROUPS POPPING UP REGION-WIDE, WITH A COMMON GOAL. THEY’RE URGING ADMINISTRATORS TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO RESUME IN-PERSON LEARNING. WITTENBORG: FOR THE KIDS THA WANT TO BE BACK AND THE KIDS -- THE TEACHERS THAT WANT TO BE BACK WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE DOORS OPEN FOR THEM AND ALLOW THEM TO COME BACK IF THEY FEEL LIKE IT’S SAFE. MELANIE: AUDREY WITTEBORG IS T PARENT OF A HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR IN THE DISTRICT. BUT SHE’S ALSO A TEACHER AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT’S BACK HOLDING CLASS IN-PERSON. SHE THINKS IT CAN BE DONE AT A LARGER SCALE IN HER DAUGHTER’ WITTENBORG: THERE’S MORE REGULATIONS BUT IT’S WORTH BECAUSE WE’VE SEEN THESE KIDS ON ZOOM THAT ARE UNHAPPY AN ACADEMICALLY THEY’RE FALLING BEHIND AND SOCIALLY THEY JUST NEED TO BE TOGETHER. MELANIE: THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ACKNOWLEDGES THE FRUSTRATIONS AND SAYS IT TOO LOOKS TO OTHER SCENARIOS FOR THE STUDENTS’ SAFE RETURN. >> LOOKING AT EXAMPLES OF WHERE IT IS BEING DONE IS SOMETHING THAT WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE BEEN DOING AND THERE ARE LOTS OF LESSONS TO BE LEARNED THERE. MELANIE: THE DISTRICT SAYS IT’S ABIDING BY STATE GUIDANCE AND AGREEMENTS WITH ITS EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATIONS. WITH THE PLAN FOR GRADES K-12 TO ALL RETURN TO IN PERSON LEARNI ONCE SACRAMENTO COUNTY GETS BACK INTO THE RED TIER. ALLEN: THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT VOICES FROM THOSE WHO SAY WE SHOULD REMAIN IN DISTANCE LEARNING FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR TO THOSE WHO SAY WE SHOULD BE BACK TOMORROW. WE HEAR ALL THOSE VOICES AND TRY TO WORK TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THE BEST AND SAFEST THING FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED. ME