At a work session Monday night, Hall County School District officials reported COVID absences among staff members remained high, but Thursday morning they said the numbers had stabilized enough to resume a hybrid schedule for students next week.
District Superintendent Will Schofield communicated the plan to staff, parents and students.
"Our team member COVID numbers have stabilized and reported student numbers have also decreased significantly," Schofield said. "In addition, our contact-tracing activity (an indicator of future school district spread) is down dramatically."
That means Hall County schools will hold an in-person hybrid schedule for at least one week following the Martin Luther King holiday on Monday. The hybrid schedule had been planned for the resumption of school following the holiday break, but the spread of COVID cases in December prompted district officials to opt for virtual learning for all students at the start of the second semester.
Schofield said with in-person classes resuming - even on a limited basis - the district will re-educate everyone on COVID health protocols.
"We will be intentionally re-teaching 200% Accountability practices to all students and team members," Schofield said. "This plan for in-person learning allows teachers to connect with students, assess student progress, and provide in-person feedback to all learners. Additionally, it will allow HCSD to gather accurate student COVID numbers in a socially distanced environment."
In addition, Schofield said the district will encourage anyone who is feeling sick to stay home.
SCHEDULE FOR NEXT WEEK'S HYBRID LEARNING AT HALL COUNTY SCHOOLS:
- All in-person self-contained special education students will attend every day, 1/19 – 1/22.
- In-person learners with last names beginning with L-Z will attend Tuesday, 1/19 and Thursday, 1/21
- In-person learners with last names beginning with A-K will attend Wednesday, 1/20 and Friday, 1/22
- For the two days when in-person learners are home, they will continue to complete their lessons in a blended format.
- Virtual students will continue their lessons digitally as normal.
- Dual Enrollment Students will attend every day.
- The district will closely monitor COVID numbers and spread and make a decision by the end of business on Thursday, January 21 regarding the following week’s plan.
- Meal delivery plans will be forthcoming.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/1/971221/hall-county-school-district-ready-to-resume-hybrid-classes-next-week