On February 17, our Board of Directors met with District administrators to discuss plans for moving towards Hybrid in-person instruction at the middle and high school levels. You can view the recording of that meeting here. This discussion included the following proposed start dates for each level:
- Middle School – April 5
- High School – Start of Quarter 4 (currently April 20)
At the middle school level, this timeline would include a professional development/transition week for staff, tentatively scheduled for March 29-April 2 (immediately following Spring Break); there would be no school for middle school students during this week. The first week of classes would serve as an orientation week for students, starting with 6th grade students on April 5. In addition to helping students transition back to in-person learning after over a year, this orientation week approach also aligns with long-term plans at that level to accommodate the need for students of all grades to become familiar with the new middle school building and come together as a unified group after bringing our two previous middle schools together.
At the high school level, aligning the proposed start date with the beginning of Quarter 4 not only tends to the timeline for staff vaccinations at that level, but also maximizes instructional time and minimizes disruption for students at the end of Quarter 3. Prior to that date, Limited In-Person opportunities will continue to be expanded, and In-Person Office Hours will be offered to all students beginning February 22. Additionally, a student advisory team is working closely with staff to create activities and opportunities for seniors to connect as a class and celebrate the end of their K-12 experience. Please watch for more information from the high school about ongoing activities at that level.
Within the next week, both the middle and high school will be providing a survey to families to collect information that will be needed to finalize reopening plans. Please stay tuned for an invitation from your school to complete that survey.
The Board of Directors is expected to take action on the proposed middle and high school start dates, as well as any additional calendar adjustments needed to accommodate those dates, at their March 10 meeting. There will not be any Board meetings or work sessions until that date, providing time over the coming weeks for our school teams to refine and make additional progress on their plans prior to Board approval.