Woodland School District trustees have directed district staff to narrow down their suggestions and focus as they look for a way to safely reopen schools during the 2020-21 school year.
During a board meeting Thursday night, trustees asked the staff to explore the possibility of full-time in-person schooling for transitional kindergarten through 3rd grade with the use of barriers and a hybrid learning model.
A hybrid model will be looked at for 4th-12th grades, all while providing a full virtual academy option for all grades for those who wish to opt-out of in-person learning due to safety concerns.
For elementary school students, district staff will also look into childcare possibilities.
“We have to be prepared for distance learning and prepare for a fluid situation,” said Associate Superintendent Elodia Ortega-Lampkin. “If we go into a blended model, we have to be prepared that we could be sheltered in place again. We need to be prepared for our families so we can do a better job than last time.”
The goals for the district included developing a plan that aligns with State and Yolo County guidelines while considering multiple options for the 2020–21 school year.
Any plan would need to include cleaning and disinfecting protocols for all spaces, limit sharing of physical items, following physical distancing guidelines, both inside and outside the classroom, symptom screening, personal hygiene measures, mandatory masks or face coverings and plans for sick staff, students or other visitors.
A special board meeting will likely be scheduled within the next two weeks to continue that discussion.
During the meeting, Superintendent Tom Pritchard mentioned that the Davis School District had not made a decision yet. Their school board will address that issue during a July 16 meeting. The Natomas District will go back to in-person with a virtual option.
At the start of the meeting, there was around an hour and a half of public comment. The community appeared very split on the issue with around 190 comments in total. A 20-minute time limit was set for each opinion regarding how schools should open up in the fall.
The first round of comments were about returning to exclusive in-person schooling, an option that doesn’t seem feasible at this time, for at least 7-12 graders.
“I did an online school and didn’t like it,” said Mia Canchola, and eighth-grader at Douglass Middle School. “I feel I learn better in a classroom setting. My fear is if we continue online learning, I will fall behind.”
A lot of comments mentioned the lack of new material and focus on busy work to get the students through distance learning.
The next round of comment was in support of a 100% return to virtual learning.
“I think it is great you are considering two options,” said Eric Garber. “We know that distance learning does not equate in-person learning, but it’s the safest choice for our students, teachers, and community. My wife and I support the idea of having our K-6 students in a virtual learning model as long as it is necessary. ”
Myra Acevedo, who is going into her junior year at Woodland High School, also chimed in.
“I know you all have a hard decision to make about the possibility of a virtual school year,” Acevedo’s comment read. “In the spring semester, virtual learning was new and different for me. I found a lot of good qualities for doing school work virtually. The capability to focus on my school work without distractions from my fellow classmates, lower stress levels, everyday school issues, and the safety of my home in these uncertain times. I felt I was able to learn the same material and would like to continue virtual learning.”
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June 27, 2020 at 10:32AM
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Trustees direct Woodland School District staff to explore hybrid learning models - Woodland Daily Democrat
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