The Yonkers Board of Education unanimously decided to delay in-person teaching for the upcoming school year.

The plan is for the district to begin classes remotely on Sept. 8 for children in kindergarten through 12th grade. The pre-K program will begin two days later.

MORE COVERAGE: Yonkers teachers say they're relieved district is starting school remotely

School officials say in an effort to provide the best possible remote learning environment, teachers will still come to the school and conduct class from their empty rooms.

They hope to switch to a hybrid model of in-school and virtual learning on Oct. 5. Parents would still have the option to keep their children home.

News 12 is told about 7,000 families of the approximately 27,000 students in the district have decided to keep their children at home.

School officials say delaying in-person instruction may seem tough, but it is a necessary decision.

"The teachers are relieved that the district is making a responsible decision at this point in time to make sure that safety protocols are in place to welcome students back," says President of the Yonkers Federation of Teachers Samantha Rosado Ciriello. "There needs to be time to prepare the classrooms, perfect remote instruction and make sure the health and safety protocols are in place to welcome students back."

Many parents say they are concerned for their children's safety, but also need them back in the classroom.

"He was so excited to go to school and have a bookbag and have a lunch bag and he's not going anywhere," says Jennica Delgado.

She says she now needs to buy things for her 5-year-old son to create a little classroom inside the house.

Officials say they will continuously monitor how the coronavirus is spreading and the safety procedures in the school to determine if they will still open in October.