School Board Weighs Starting on-campus Hybrid Learning in January
A plan presented to the board at the Oct 13 meeting would divide the student body. The plan would have to be approved by the board to take effect.
A worker sanitizes a restroom at Mira Loma High School in a photo that was included in the slide presentation shown to the school board on Oct. 13. Enhanced cleanings would be part of bringing students back on campus part-time.
District Superintendent Kent Kern presented the school board with a plan to re-open high schools in January at Wednesday’s board meeting, one day after Sacramento County amended its public health guidance to permit schools to resume on-campus instruction with COVID-19 modifications.
The plan, similar to the one the district considered in July, would bring back students in two cohorts, each on campus two days a week, and also allow students the option to continue learning entirely online. The plan must be approved by the board be taking effect.
Following the state’s multi-tier Covid-19 reporting system, the county moved from Purple Tier — the most restrictive reopening guidelines — to Red on Sept. 29. The county remained in the Red tier for two weeks, and as of Oct. 13 schools could legally reopen with restrictions.
San Juan officials have said they would give at least two weeks’ notice before reopening schools. The plan presented to the board Wednesday proposed beginning hybrid instruction on Jan. 5, with the start of the new semester.
Under a plan for high schools, half of the students would attend classes on Monday and Thursday, the other half on Tuesday and Friday. All students would continue to participate in distance learning when not on campus, and Wednesdays would be used for cleaning sites as well as asynchronous work for students.
In the presentation to the board, staff acknowledged that the plan could present several challenges, including:
- Hybrid models may reduce the amount of synchronous instruction and increase asynchronous instruction
- Choice of continuing in distance learning is not always available
- Potential for significant staffing changes and shifts in teachers for students
- Families must commit now to whatever model they intend to stay in for the remainder of the school year
- Keeping cohorts pure is important, but gets more challenging at the secondary level
The slide presentation presented to the board is available here.
The agenda for the board meeting is available here.
Minutes have not yet been posted.
Daniel Norris • Dec 6, 2020 at 2:03 PM
In my opinion we should not go back. At this current time our cases are going up significantly faster than we have ever seen before. People are dying every day in greater and greater numbers because of this deadly pandemic. As unfun as online school is to go back when things are the worst they have ever been even if it is done as safely as possible is not a good idea. People are going to get sick and the results could be tragic. I say we just stick it out until it’s actually safe to go back and not just more fun.
David Bogle • Nov 2, 2020 at 12:54 AM
While many students would do better with in person learning, this is an option that is not realistic for many teachers in poor health and students with at-risk family members. Because of this, I don’t believe that we should attend school in person until the risk of contracting coronavirus is negligible. I am afraid that the district’s decision will be financially motivated.
Ryan Lewis • Nov 1, 2020 at 10:11 PM
This whole going back to school situation is extremely confusing. Personally, I don’t understand why we would go back to school when there has yet to be an approved vaccine. I also feel like students should all go back to school, or all stay at home. It would make things too confusing if only half the students returned while the other half were in their beds at home.
Annika Dengel • Nov 1, 2020 at 6:54 PM
I really do hope that we can safely start a hybrid system, but at the same time it is terrifying to consider. Our school has more than 2,000 kids, with each class sizes averaging in the mid thirties. Reading about other schools who have started a hybrid system, it just does not sound feasible, especially considering the cost of personal protective equipment.
Ethan Huggins • Nov 1, 2020 at 5:02 PM
I would love it if we could go back to school. I personally learn better with face-to-face interactions. However, with COVID-19, nothing will be the same. Students won’t be on the campus for extended periods of times, and there would hardly be any social interactions. Even more so concerning, I have a family member who is going through cancer recovery, and are hence at an extreme risk of COVID. Because of this dilemma, I still don’t know which learning path to take. Plus, I’ve been pressured by that family member to take my education to the highest degree I can, and go back to face-to-face, but I don’t know if I should for my family’s safety. And as a commenter brought up, there is no inclination of how successful the plans and COVID cleanings will be.
Dillon Gordon • Nov 1, 2020 at 6:46 AM
While the idea of going to in-person instructional learning sounds spectacular, accommodating to a new system does not. As mentioned in the article, there are many challenges, many of which could prohibit proper education. Numbers of students adapted to our new distance learning environment, and while we all strive for more intimate social connections, we understand that a change of system might be harder than the one we’re already operating in. As for myself, I am unsure if I would go back in January; there are a multitude of risks and factors and I don’t think I am ready to account for them just yet. Maybe I’ll have a change of heart in the coming months.
Alexander • Oct 31, 2020 at 11:38 PM
I am excited to go back to school and be physically in a classroom so I can have human interaction again. However I do have concerns as to the potential threat that it may pose to my dad who has a weakened immune system., and other people who might suffer from the virus. Therefore I am cautiously excited for what is to come and still haven’t made up my mind in which hybrid method I will participate.
Claire Fouché • Oct 31, 2020 at 11:51 AM
As someone who thinks that no one should be back on campus during a global pandemic, it is interesting to understand the ideas that the School Board has brought to the table. The idea of going back to school seems great, but is this really going to be beneficial or realistic at this point? I think we are all aware that these times are unfamiliar and difficult to navigate, but is it worth putting thousands of people at risk?
Ryan Witte • Oct 30, 2020 at 9:59 AM
I think that going back to school is a risk, but it’s one I think we should take. I know that teachers are the ones that are most at risk and because they wouldn’t really have an option to stay home it’s understandable that people are worried. However I think that going back to school can and should be done as carefully as possible. I think that if done correctly we can avoid any major spreading of corona virus. With people socially distancing and wearing masks and properly ventilating classrooms i think we can keep people safe. The main risk of going back to school is the kids hanging out that is sure to follow. But because this is entirely up to you how much you expose yourself to others outside of the classroom I think that those who are at risk can stay safe. In conclusion I think that we can mitigate the risks and get the education we need.
Sierra Witte • Oct 30, 2020 at 9:12 AM
I can not wait to go back to school. I think it is so important to be on campus while learning because at home there are so many distractions. I also think it is great that the district is taking so many precautions in order to make the most amount of people feel safe and comfortable. At the same time, I know not everyone will be back and it defiantly will be different, but I still think it is fantastic that we will have an option to go back on campus.
Evie Hofioni • Oct 28, 2020 at 2:03 PM
I think there are different ways that going back to school in person could go. The idea of it sounds great, being able to be in the halls again, in class with a teacher and being able to see other students, but the many Covid-19 restrictions and rules will impact this nice image of going back to school. There are safety concerns, adapting to yet another new environment and many other aspects that will not be the same as a ‘normal’ school year. I think having an option is a great idea because there is no telling how successful this will be.
Alex Bornino • Oct 15, 2020 at 11:13 AM
My mother is apart of Rio Staff, and I am highly concerned for her well-being as if we go back to school, teachers are exposed to the virus more than any other member of the school. With this, my 65-year-old step-dad will be at risk. Of course, I want to go back, but our community may not be ready if it isn’t safe. My mother is excited to go back and have less parent pressure, but I am still wary of her safety.