Highlands returning to hybrid schedule, exploring half-day, in-person instruction for elementary grades

All Highlands School District students will return to a hybrid schedule next week, and administrators are considering bringing elementary students back for in-person instruction for half-days.

Superintendent Monique Mawhinney said the district’s covid task force voted Monday to return all students to the hybrid schedule beginning Jan. 19. The district had moved all students to fully remote instruction beginning Dec. 1.

The hybrid model will again see students split into two groups, with one group in schools Mondays and Tuesdays and the other there Wednesdays and Thursdays. All students will learn remotely on Fridays.

Mawhinney said the task force also voted to have her investigate the possibility of having students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade return to half-days either four or five days a week. If done, one group would be in schools in the mornings and the other would be there in the afternoons.

The decision was based on state health and education officials encouraging school districts to return elementary students to classrooms, at least partially, Mawhinney said.

If elementary students are brought back for half-day, in-person instruction, Mawhinney said the in-person time would focus on their main academics, while the rest of the day would be devoted to electives and other activities.

Elementary students can’t all be brought back together while also maintaining social distancing, she said.

Mawhinney said district officials will need to consider issues relating to transportation, food service and maintenance, including if it will be possible for custodians to get cleaning done in the transition between the morning and afternoon groups.

Mawhinney said she also will talk with principals to make sure such a schedule would work effectively and result in productive and meaningful instruction.

“There is a lot that goes into that. It’s not just an easy thing,” Mawhinney told the school board. “Before we commit to that program, I’m going to investigate and see if that’s a possibility.”

The district will release a survey to get feedback from parents, Mawhinney said.

The district will have its remote virtual academy as an option for parents not comfortable sending their children back to schools, she said.

While acknowledging this could cause another disruption for child care, Mawhinney said she agrees with the need to get children back in school, and that it could take priority over child care.

Mawhinney said she hopes to have a decision on the elementary instruction in two or three weeks.