Hawaii’s public schools plan to reopen fully Aug. 3 for in-person classes with 3-foot spacing among students and teachers in classrooms, although ventilation still needs to be improved in some spots.

A report on “Return to Learn” metrics presented Thursday to the Board of Education shows all schools can accommodate such distancing and that nearly 90% of classrooms statewide were “properly ventilated,” with about 1 out of 10 needing adjustments.

The department has ordered and received meters for every school to track air quality and circulation, and is procuring box fans for all 12,000-plus classrooms statewide to boost air flow, schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto told the board.

She emphasized that having kids back on campus is a priority, and schools would follow the Health Department’s core strategies against the coronavirus: hand-washing, masking and staying home when sick.

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Two education advocacy groups, the He‘e Coalition and HawaiiKidsCan, urged the department to offer more remote learning alternatives.

“No one should be shutting families out of the options they believe are best for their children,” David Miyashiro, executive director of HawaiiKidsCan, testified. “The first step in upholding that value is ensuring that virtual learning remains an option for all families who want it this fall.”

Board members called for clear communication to families so they know what to expect. Kishimoto advised parents to check in with their schools. Depending on demand and capacity, she said, complex-area superintendents might consider having one school in a complex take on a cohort of distance learners…