Trying my hand at satire again. We'll see how this goes.
Martin School District Community,
As the Martin School District Board of Education, we would like to update you on where we are with our plans for second semester of the 20-21 school year, meaning January of 2021. Board members voiced strong support for a return to in-person learning for all students in grades Preschool through 12 and teachers voiced strong support for a vaccine before returning to in person learning. It is currently our intent to return to in-person learning for the second semester through a hybrid model. The hybrid model allows for a phased-in approach as recommended by public health officials. There is no plan to provide the vaccine to teachers before we return to in person learning as it will not be availalble until later this spring.However, since everyone seems to believe the vaccine is available and have flooded the malls this season, it looks bad if we keep school closed. Also Florida is open, so we feel bullied The proposed model is the same model created for October of 2020. The model was not implemented due to a predicted Covid-19 spike in the community. Public healthy officials predict a post holiday spike, which will likely occur around the same date that MSD plans to return to in person learning.
The in person hybrid model divides students into groups “A” and “B”. One group attends school in person on designated “A” weeks (Monday-Thursday) for two weeks, unless that week has a holiday Monday, then it is two weeks and a day. Or if there is a snow day, or state testing Wednesday, then it is two weeks plus Monday and Wednesday the following week. The other group attends school in person on designated “B” weeks (Monday-Thursday) unless there is a holiday Monday, or state testing Wednesday, or a snow day. All snow days will be remote. Fridays will remain no contact A Synchronous days, which will stay until the school year ending 2022, as it gives the custodians a day to deep clean and is actually moving toward a four day school week, which would be awesome and we support but the community does not. When the "A " Group is attending in person, the "B" group has logged into class from home and is completing A Synchronous work aligned with the class content for those two weeks, except for Wednesdays when group "B" will log in Synchronously and participate live with the class. The district will continue to provide one Chrome book per student and one per teacher, so teachers should ensure that on Weds they stand in the clearly marked, blue taped sqare in front of their laptop in the classroom, as we do not have the budget for cameras or lighting to accomodate the teacher moving about the classroom. Should there be a Covid-19 spike, we will return to remote learning for all students, but teachers should make plans to stay in the building and teach from their blue taped square, to provide consistency for our students, which is so important to the mental health of our students. After two weeks, the "B" group switches to in person learning and "A" moves to remote. Teachers and students will follow the protocol set forth by public health officials, and must allow no more than ten students in class at a time, desks facing forward, masked and no food or beverage in the room, no eye contact or forced breathing or talking. Teachers may choose to build a plexiglass booth around their blue taped squares, at their own expense, for additional safety. Students are welcome to do the same around their desks, since they will not be changing classrooms and may as well move in. As long as they leave before 11 am, as no students are allowed in the buildings after 11 am.
Please note that some class sizes cannot accomodate only twenty students total ( ten in group "A" and ten in group "B") so some classes will have to extend their schedule to include a group "C", which will involve creating a new calendar with more than four weeks in a month and includes an additional day in the week. Group "C" may attend the same weeks as group "A" at either an early morning time (4 am-7am) or afternoon (3.30 pm-6.30 pm) or on Saturdays, unless there is a state college entrance exam sheduled, in which case Group "C" students will attend on Sunday. Once the schedule is agreed upon, this students will attend on the new eighth week day "Blursday".
The choices as to which classes shall return to in person learning is up to individual buildings. We recommend allowing all sports to practice per CHSSA regulations after school, and leaving gym, art and performing arts electives in remote learning because they breathe too much. Also, some buildings may choose to have in person learning in the morning session, only, allowing students time to get home for their pm remote session and giving the custodians time to clean the building. Teachers, whether hybrid or remote/synchronous are all expected to teach from their blue taped square in the classroom, including A Synchronous Fridays. If a teacher builds a plexiglass booth, it is their choice as to whether or not they teach from inside the booth on A Synchronous Fridays.
Preschool students will NOT be divided into two groups and will attend school every week on Mondays-Thursdays. There is no plan for plexiglass particians, as preschoolers are petrie dishes and will touch everything, anyway.
Please note these are the exact same plans that were in place in October when the predicted spike hit our community, and the district closed all buildings.
We will confirm our plans by Monday, Jan. 4. We have strong plans in place and we intend to return to school in person as long as health data do not negatively impact our ability to implement our plans.Please note that if there is a predicted spike after the holiday, we will remain remote and none of this will matter.
Enjoy the break with your families.
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