The Pennsbury School District has laid out a plan to return students to the classroom in a hybrid model.
The school board announced Thursday night that they will host a special meeting on Wednesday, October 21 to vote on the new plan that would bring students back in-person before February 2021.
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The phased plan was put together by the administration and took multiple factors into account, Board President T.R. Kannan said.
He explained the district has received lots of feedback, both positive and negative on virtual learning. He also said all sides are doing their best to give kids’ the best education possible during the pandemic.
His statements and the reveal of the phased plan come after parents called for details on some sort of in-person learning as some surrounding districts begun to return to classrooms. A protest was held outside the administration building in Falls Township late last month.
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Superintendent Dr. William Gretzula showed off the proposal for a hybrid model of instruction that would have younger students returning as soon as November and high schoolers returning by the end of January.
The hybrid approach would break students up into A and B groups and have the first group in school on Mondays and Tuesdays and the second group on Wednesdays and Thursdays. All students would take classes virtually on Fridays.
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Gretzula said Google Meet will be used for instruction for all students, including in-person groups. Office hours for students would continue to be provided daily by teachers.
The superintendent explained that the administration felt bringing students in school two days in a row would be the best way to handle the return and keep up momentum.
Students who wish to remain in an all virtual environment could continue to do so, Gretzula said.
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The proposal calls for schedules for student learning to remain similar, but in-person lunch schedules will be staggered to maintain physical distancing in buildings.
The hybrid plan calls for bringing back pre-K through second grade students and students in specialized learning classrooms starting November 12. Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders would return under the hybrid model on December 7, and students in grades seven and eight would have a hybrid return starting January 4. Between January 19 to 29, all students would be back in classes and could be in-person for end of course assessments.
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Students would have to wear face masks in school and there would be physical distancing in classrooms, in addition to other safety measures, according to the plan.
Gretzula said teachers would adjust so they can teach for in-person classes and students joining virtually. He said teachers would have projection technology, laptops, Chromebooks, and microphones.
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Gretzula said he has spoken with other districts about best practices, including how to handle COVID-19 cases connected to the schools.
During public comment, there were parents bringing forward complaints and questions about plans to return, parents asking about problems with technology, and those who worried about returning to classrooms during flu season and amid a possible second wave of COVID-19.
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“I want to go back to school now,” a Pennsbury High School senior wrote in her public comment.
The school board voted to bring back two dozen paraprofessionals. Gretzula also announced plans to bring back more support staff if the in-person learning is approved next week.
The school board meeting, which saw some board members and administrators gathered in person for a public meeting for the first time since winter, was streamed online. The meeting lasted until just after midnight.
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