Broward County Schools superintendent wants to see in-person classes ‘as soon as possible’

As Miami-Dade County public schools are gearing up to start next week on a new online platform, Broward County’s public school superintendent says he wants in-person classes as soon as possible.

During a morning school board workshop Tuesday, Superintendent Robert Runcie said he wants to see schools opened sooner, rather than later.

“I want to open schools as soon as possible,” he said during the meeting. “I consult with health officials daily.”

Runcie also said schools could be opening in the fall if novel coronavirus case trends continue on the path they are on. An assessment will be made after Labor Day.

As of Tuesday, Broward County has seen a steady decline in new cases since last Wednesday, going from 538 new confirmed cases on Aug. 19 to 201 cases on Tuesday, according to the Florida Department of Health. In total, Broward had 69,584 known positive cases and 1,147 deaths as of Tuesday.

The county’s percent positivity rate for new cases: 5.66%.

Broward County public schools started their school year on Wednesday and are fully online.

Just like Broward, Miami-Dade will begin the school year online, but some are worried that the new online system, My School Online, may not hold up when 275,000 students log on Monday, the first day of school.

Teachers, who’ve been trained to use the program, have already lodged complaints about it.

Miami-Dade’s public schools start Monday. How ready is the new online platform?