About 60 South Butler County School District parents, grandparents and students — all equally passionate about school returning normally in the fall — held homemade signs and cheered as honking vehicles passed their protest Thursday evening along Dinnerbell Road in front of Knoch High School.

The peaceful protest was organized to voice opposition to the district's plan to split the student population into two groups and send each group to classes for two days per week. The students would study at home using district curriculum the other three school days per week.

"We don't want to wear masks or live in fear at school and I don't want our classes to be split up," said Savannah Zanoli, who will enter 4th grade in the fall.

"It was really hard for all of the kids to do online," said her classmate, Tessa Carbuncgo, whose mother, Amy, organized the protest. "I miss my friends and teachers."

School board members Matt Cimbala and George Zacherl came to the protest to talk to parents about their concerns.

Cimbala, who voted in favor of the plan, explained that the district was required to submit a plan to the state's Department of Education by June 30, and that the plan will change over the summer depending on the virus and other factors.

"I understand their frustration and I appreciate them coming out," Cimbala said of the protest.

Read the full story in Sunday's Butler Eagle.