Some parents commit to online learning amid the district decisions

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Some parents in Colorado Springs aren't ready to send their kids back to school in person yet.

Andrea Johnson, the mother to a 4th grader at Academy of Advanced and Creative Learning, says she'll be keeping her kid at home for online-school.

"I don't feel it's something we should be playing roulette with," Johnson explained.

Running her own business, Johnson says she has the flexibility to keep her nine-year-old son Brayson at home or at work with her to do school virtually.

"Some kids will get sick. Some teachers will get sick out of this and this isn't something we can avoid if they're there," she said. "So I don't want him to have to take a chance of being one of them."

Her decision is one that thousands of parents in Colorado Springs are faced with. District 11, which Brayson's school belongs to, hasn't released its back-to-school plan yet.

Over the phone, Devra Ashby, public information officer for the district said back in June, a district survey revealed 75% of parents were considering sending their kids to school in-person, and 20% were undecided.

They anticipate that number to change and will be conducting another over-the-phone survey in the coming days.

Johnson says she hopes more parents consider online learning, giving classrooms and school buildings more space to social distance.

"If too many people or if everybody did, that would secure another lockdown where everyone is forced out," Johnson said. "So I'm trying to do my part of keeping as many kids out as we can in a community."

Most districts in Colorado Springs are moving forward with start dates in mid-August but are keeping a close eye on health orders in place for changes.