More elementary students will be taught in person
Staff report
On Oct. 23, Sherry Sousa, WCSU interim superintendent, announced that the district would move to Hybrid 2.0 — the next phase in the district’s plan for more in-person instruction— starting Thursday, Oct. 29.
Based on recommendation from the districts elementary school principals and the Agency of Education’s relaxed guidance of 3-feet for social distancing for grades K-6, viable capacity changes to the current plan include:
Barnard Academy has capacity to modify its hybrid model to 4 days per week for grades 4-6.
Killington Elementary School has capacity to modify its hybrid model to 4 days per week for grades 3-6.
Woodstock Elementary School has some capacity for grades 3 and 6 and very little capacity in 4 and 5. In addition, parents and staff have expressed concern about additional students in the building. Parents from WES will be contacted regarding their preference and availability in various homerooms.
Woodstock Middle School/High School hybrid program will not vary regarding the number of days on campus and at home due to continued 6 foot requirements for social distancing.
Pre-K will remain at the current hybrid model due to challenges with social distancing for the youngest students.
Wednesdays will continue as faculty and staff planning and preparation days as students will remain in their cohorts while on campus, which does not allow for contractual obligations for teacher planning and nonstudent time.
Thanksgiving break
“Faculty and families are concerned by the possible number of individuals who will be traveling to other states or have guests from regions with higher Covid positive rates,” Sousa wrote. Depending on state guidance, “post Thanksgiving may look different than our current model with the revisions above for a short period of time. Another worry is that if we have a high absentee level due to quarantining of students or faculty, we will not be able to open schools.”
The Vermont Agency of Education and Dept. of Health has stated that they will provide a recommended response to this question by the end of next week.
