A decision to open the state’s public schools will be made this week as coronavirus restrictions are being relaxed.

“We’re not quite ready to make an announcement,” said S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman in a WIS-TV interview Monday.

“But “I can assure you, by the end of the week,” Spearman said, “that we will make an announcement and it will be done in the best interests of our students and our teachers and faculty.”

Public boats ramps were allowed to reopen last week. And retail stores and public beaches are expected to be allowed to reopened later today by Gov. Henry McMaster.

Spearman noted that the schools, McMaster closed on March 16, have been out six weeks. All learning has been moved to online. There are about six weeks left in the 2019-20 school year.

Spearman told WIS the S.C. Department of Education has asked superintendents regarding a preference on coming back, and discovered “overwhelmingly, they said they don’t think it’s in our best interest to go back to school.”

Spearman said she is concerned that some students are not faring as well as others, especially special needs students that need one-on-one instruction.

She said the risk is being weighed of coming back to school for just a few weeks.