MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. -- Manatee County is one of the first schools in the Tampa Bay area to start.
On Monday, August 17, 74 percent of students will return to brick-and-mortar classrooms.
The district has some new equipment designed to keep students and staff safe.
An electrostatic sprayer will be used to disinfect rooms with a COVID-19 positive case. It can kill the virus in just two minutes.
But the district is still waiting to get in basic supplies like cleaning wipes that will likely not be in until after school starts.
"We tried to get our orders in early, and the purchasing department has worked diligently to try to source for us. But keep in mind that everyone is ordering the same thing," said Todd Henson, Director of Maintenance and operations for Manatee County Schools.
Parent Jessica Patterson says she’s not comfortable sending her kids back.
"We should not be going back to school unless we are prepared to be able to go back safely," said Patterson.
The Manatee County School Board will meet on Tuesday, August 11. It will be the board's last chance to discuss delaying the school year before it starts.