Editor's Note: It was earlier reported that in-person learning was scheduled to start Tuesday, Feb. 15, but the Gary Community School Corporation announced that due to inclement weather, there will be no in-person instruction on Feb. 16 and 17. In-person learning is now scheduled to resume Thursday, Feb. 18.
CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- For the first time since last March, hundreds of students will be learning in-person starting Thursday in Gary.
According to Dr. Paige McNulty, manager of the Gary Community School Corporation, 46 percent of the elementary and middle school students will be returning for in-person learning.
It'll be a hybrid system. Half of them will be in school on Mondays and Tuesdays, the other half on Thursdays and Fridays. All of them will learn virtually on Wednesdays.
Dr. McNulty said safety features include face masks for students who forget theirs, desks with shields, and individually-packed lunches.
"Restrooms have been marked off. Every other restroom, etc. Students will also be provided two water bottles throughout the day of water so that they can have something to drink since the water fountains are turned off," she said.
"We will certainly adjust as we go along. We’ve asked everyone as we have all year long to be nimble and to grant each other grace as this has been a difficult school year, but we are really excited to see everybody to come back."
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Gary public high schoolers will continue learning remotely full-time.
At last report, McNulty had said in October that enrollment in Gary schools is about 4,400, including high school students.