3 times as many Deer Lakes students choosing in-person instruction over remote learning

Deer Lakes School District began offering full-time, in-person instruction again last week.

The school board voted in February to eliminate the hybrid approach that had been in place, leaving families a choice between full-time, in-person instruction or fully remote instruction for their child.

Deer Lakes now has 1,324 students receiving full-time, in-person instruction, while 422 students are learning remotely.

Superintendent Janell Logue-Belden sent a letter to district families explaining the changes.

“Students who attend in-person for 5 days per week will only be permitted to work from home due to illness and quarantine,” Logue-Belden wrote in the letter.

She said it’s important for students and families to do daily self-health checks and to have children stay home if they do not feel well. Parents also are asked to notify their child’s school nurse and principal if a child tests positive for covid.

Face coverings will be required for students returning to school full-time with lunch being the exception, and social distancing will be maintained to the greatest extent possible in classrooms and hallways, Logue-Belden said.

Logue-Belden said parents should transport their children to and from school if possible to help decrease the number of children on school buses.