Deer Lakes approves hybrid, fully online classes for start of 2020-21 school year

Deer Lakes School District will welcome students back with a mix of blended learning and fully online classes.

The updated plan gives students the ability to attend in-person classes twice a week and work remotely the remaining three days, or choose between two online learning tracks.

Classes are scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 31 instead of Wednesday, Aug. 26 as originally planned.

“This is a complex situation and it’s going to impact different families in different ways,” Superintendent Dr. Janell Logue-Belden said in a statement. “We don’t have control over very many factors, but this entire community has come together through this difficult process and we will continue to do our best (to) meet the challenges we are sure to face moving forward.”

The district used results from community surveys, feedback from students, staff and families, and guidance from state and local officials to decide on potential reopening plans.

“This has been a very collaborative process from the start,” Logue-Belden said. “They’ve spoken and we’ve listened.”

The school board voted 9-0 to modify its back-to-school plan at a special, virtual meeting last week, district spokesman Jim Cromie said.

School directors who responded to the Tribune-Review directed further questions to Cromie, Logue-Belden and school board President Bill Lupone. Lupone did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Students who choose the hybrid model will be divided evenly into two groups — a green group and a yellow group.

On Monday and Tuesday, the green group will receive in-person instruction, while the yellow group works online. Conversely, the yellow group will receive in-person instruction on Thursday and Friday, while the green group works remotely from home.

Both groups would receive online instruction on Wednesday, officials said.

Elementary students who choose the hybrid model will be on an early release schedule, and secondary students will have a delayed start, officials said.

2 online-only options

Families who want their children to learn fully online can choose between Distance Learning at Deer Lakes and Lancer Academy Online Learning.

Distance Learning at Deer Lakes will be taught by district teachers through live and recorded instruction. Teachers will have office hours for students.

Lancer Academy also offers live and recorded instruction, but is it done through the Allegheny Intermediate Unit and Waterfront Learning. All the courses are taught by Pennsylvania certified teachers.

“At Lancer Academy Online Learning, students can choose a schedule and courses that suit them,” the district’s website says. “Because the Center is part of a consortium, students have the option of taking a wide range of online courses in all areas of the curriculum.”

Kindergarten orientation set

The district also plans to hold a kindergarten orientation on Friday, Aug. 28 so incoming students and their parents can familiarize themselves with the school and ask questions about it ahead of time, officials said. Visit windows will be preassigned based on a child’s teacher. They will last 30 minutes each.

Logue-Belden said the idea for a kindergarten orientation came from a question-and-answer session with district parents. She said kindergarten parents, in particular, wanted to see for themselves what the building looks like and what safety protocols have been put in place for their children.

“We looked at each other and said, ‘You know what, that makes perfect sense,’” Logue-Belden said.