West Virginia Board of Education votes for in-person learning

The board also voted to recommend that students in grades nine through twelve return to in-person learning, but the vote was non-binding.

The decision by the board follows calls from West Virginia Governor Jim Justice (R) to return students to the classroom. Many counties in the state have done rotational in-person learning, with students learning in class on some days of the week and learning from home during others.

Dr. Clay Marsh, who is the top doctor overseeing the state's coronavirus response, said during the meeting that it is safe for children in grades eight and under to return to class due to the reduced likelihood of transmission among younger kids.

He did note that some classes are more dangerous than others when it comes to spreading coronavirus, however, such as music and special needs classes.

West Virginia Education Association president Dale Lee expressed concern over the motion and called for more vaccines to be made available for teachers in order to avoid spreading coronavirus in the classroom.