WATERTOWN, S.D. (KWAT) — South Dakota schools kick off another academic year in the days ahead, and for many students, it’ll be the first time they’ve been in a classroom since March, when COVID-19 shut down school buildings.

School administrators have been working throughout the summer to formulate plans for a return to “in class” learning.

Superintendent Jeff Danielsen has worked with a task force to put together a “Return To School” plan for Watertown kids.

If you’ve been wondering if school buses will be running this fall, the answer is yes.

The big debate as schools re-open is whether to make masks mandatory or optional for kids in the classroom. Watertown is strongly recommending them…but has not made them mandatory.

School Board member Scott Hardie has been outspoken about making the masks mandatory.

The Watertown School Board this week defeated Hardie’s amendment to make masks mandatory.

The school year begins Aug. 27.