According to a statement released on Wednesday, Milwaukee Public Schools will allow some students to remain virtual next year.
The district announced, "the development of a virtual program that will be offered as a full-time learning option" during the 2021-22 school year.
Students enrolled in the virtual program next year, however, would not learn with the teacher from their classroom, as they did this year. Instead, they will, according to the statement, "receive instruction from teachers fully dedicated to remote learning."
Teachers in MPS classrooms would teach only in-person students.
Students who participate in the virtual option will not lose their seat at their current school when they return to in-person learning.
At the moment all students enrolled are assigned to in-person classroom learning five days a week for next year, but families can express their desire to participate in the virtual option by filling out a survey.
The statement was later sent to MPS families in an email and the survey is also being sent to MPS families by U.S. Mail.
They must return the surveys by Monday, June 21 in order to be eligible to take part in the virtual program, which is limited, though to how many students, the district did not say.
If you wish your children to attend in-person school, you do not need to do anything.
"We are elated to offer this option for students and families who desire to remain virtual," said MPS Superintendent Dr. Keith P. Posley in the statement.
"As we prepare for a full return to school buildings, our desire is that all of our young people have access to the best possible education, whether virtual or in-person."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
