SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City School District (SLCSD) is the only district in the state to implement all remote learning. And now… it seems like it could be that way for a while.

Schools are returning to class around Utah for the next two weeks. Almost every school district gave parents the option of choosing in-class, a blended/hybrid model, or online learning.

The district hoped to re-evaluate the decision in October. Now, the superintendent clarified remote instruction could continue beyond the first term.

“With numbers going down I’d rather wait a little bit longer,” SLCSD Superintendent Larry Madden told KSL TV’s Deanie Wimmer. “Let the numbers go down, stabilize more, then come back and stay back.”

Madden said the soonest students will returning to campus is Oct. 9. with a hybrid model.

That news may be disappointing to many parents who hoped to see in person class return sooner.

Parents had asked for a choice, and some rallied at the district offices to allow kids to be in class. The governor even clarified the state coronavirus color-coded stages to allow that to happen. Other parents circulated a petition to keep schools closed for safety.

On July 30th, the Salt Lake School Board voted to do distance learning only. The plan also called for delaying the start of school until Tuesday, September 8th.

The district plan said the two weeks before that would be for checking out Chromebooks and other devices, and training students and parents how to use the online platform Canvas.

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