Public school parents choose private school for in-person instruction amid the pandemic

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (WTVF) — Some Williamson County parents have decided to take their students out of public school, and enroll them in private school, due to virtual learning concerns during the pandemic.

Cindy Wallace and her husband weighed how much it would cost to have a tutor and childcare at their home versus going to private school. In the end, they felt that a small private school with in-person learning was the right call.

“We just felt like this was the best choice for our family.”

Cindy decided to pull her two boys out of the Williamson County School district since they’re starting the year remotely.

“It breaks my heart to be honest that some parents aren’t able to make a choice that makes financial sense for them this year. It’s extremely frustrating for those having to leave their job, or face that situation of possibly losing their job, if they stay home with their child," said Cindy.

She and her husband both work full time; so staying home for virtual learning is not an option. She said in a survey, that was previously posted on the WCS website, that nearly 65% of parents said they wanted in-person instruction as an option.

“There’s another 12 to 13% that said 'most likely would,' but we’re almost at 85% that if given the choice, they would want their kids to start school in person.”

Cindy said she’s not alone. She knows other parents who are taking the private school or homeschool route, even when many of them chose to move to Williamson County for the school district.

“I think people feel that they’re invested with the prices of the homes, the tax dollars, and they’ve just kind of been left in the dark throughout the summer, and then left with the decision to go completely remote within past two weeks," she explained.

Cindy went to Metro Nashville Public Schools, and she’s worried about how this will affect funding.

“That’s a little bit of a frustrating part because in this situation I think it would make sense for the funding to follow the students because there’s going to be thousands of students that are not enrolled.”

For now, she’s going to focus on getting her children adjusted to a new school and new friends. “I think for a lot of parents it’s just that emotional roller coaster, "Wallace said,"Decision fatigue, we just really want to make the best choice for our kids.”

In Williamson County, Kindergarten through 2nd grade students return in person on Friday. Enrollment numbers generally aren’t released until Labor Day.