MEDICAL LAKE — The school district decided that students would be starting the year mostly in an online learning model, Superintendent Tim Ames announced today.
The decision comes in light of state and regional health recommendations for “high-risk” counties with larger numbers of COVID-19 cases to return to school in some form of a distanced model.
“Our school board and administrative team have the obligation to follow the strong recommendations from the health experts,” Ames said in a video posted to the district’s website. “Though it is not the situation we had hoped for, distance learning is one for which we have prepared for as a district.”
Ames added that there would be small group in-person learning with heavy safety precautions taken for the district’s “most vulnerable populations.” These students will be on a case-by-case basis and may include children with limited Internet access, disabilities, mental health needs or 504s.
The state recently announced it would invest $8.8 million to assist families with poor broadband access.
Families have two distance learning options to choose from. Option 1 is a virtual-learning model with the option to return to in-person when safe to do so. This model will be led by district teachers and allows children to maintain the same teachers when it is deemed safe to do so.
Option 2 is a “self-paced” online model through Connect +. This option is for students with the preference of staying virtual through the whole school year. These students will be paired with a specialized Connect + school district teacher to complete assignments throughout the year.
Families are asked to choose an option for their students by Aug. 21.
Ames added that the school hopes to return to in-person learning for all students “as soon as possible, pending recommendations from public health officials.”
When safe to return to in-person learning, grades K-5 will meet four days a week, with one day being a distance learning day. Grades 6-12 will be in-person two days a week and distanced three days a week. These grades will be divided into Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday in-person groups.
Ames said via email that the district currently plans for teachers to still be in-house five days a week to help facilitate learning.
The first day of school is Sept. 2. The district asked parents to schedule teacher conferences during the first week of school, adding that the intention of the first week is to meet with teachers and provide necessary materials and support. Conference sign-up will be sent to families Aug. 26.
Drew Lawson can be reached at [email protected].
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