Thursday, March 11, 2021 - 8:23 am
Superintendent Dana Monogue, other District administrators and elementary school principals shared information about the possibility of increasing in-person instruction at the elementary level at the Board of Education meeting at Kromrey Middle School on Monday, March 8.
Monogue noted the District wanted to get feedback and direction from School Board members so a recommendation can be brought forward no later than March 22.
Monogue briefly reviewed Public Health Madison Dane County Order #14, which was announced last week and goes into effect on March 10. She noted there is new language for physical distancing in schools that indicates if 6 feet of physical distancing can't be maintained that schools should keep students static and in same areas with the same students as much as possible.
She believes all staff will have at least one dose of one of three three vaccines by spring break later this month. She also noted the Distict may not need a Staff Clinic as a recent survey indicated the vast majority of staff they have already been vaccinated or have an appointment to do so.
Monogue said physical distancing can be maintained in a blended model but not in some classrooms if students return four days a week. If the current model is maintained, the District can keep student-teacher-family relationships intact, but if in-person learning, is increased it will likely impact class lists and staffing in the Universal and Fully Virtual models. She also noted at two listening sessions on Monday, elementary staff indicated a desire to remain with their current classrooms and worry about the impact of model shifts.
Monogue noted model changes would staffing, class lists, food service and transportation and would require lots of outreach. Staff have also indicated it has been challenging to engage students, especially at the K-2 level, on Zoom while also teaching in the classroom. If the District moves to students in building four days a week, that would likely no more virtual concurrent learning, Monogue said.
She reviewed how the District is supporting families, staff and students andthen reviewed what other area districts are doing. DeForest going to four days a week for elementary students in early April. Monona Grove and Mount Horeb are also bringing back elementary students four days a week in April. Waunakee, Sun Prairie and Verona planned to discuss and make decisions at their respective School Board meetings on Monday night.
Members asked questions and offered ideas for 80 minutes.
Earlier in the meeting, Dr. Ellen Wald and Dr. Sabrina Butteris, who have been acting as medical advisers for the District since November, indicated they believe the risks associated with not having students in school far outweigh the risks related to having them in school, particularly at the elementary level. There were concerns conveyed from Butteris and Wald regarding rising obesity rates in children and mental health impacts of the pandemic.