Leaders of Salem-Keizer Public Schools are considering a hybrid model of in-person and virtual learning to bring the district's 42,000-plus students back to class this fall.
Salem-Keizer School Board members discussed the proposed re-entry plans for the upcoming 2020-21 year at Tuesday night's meeting, having kicked off conversations the week before.
District and board officials have to consider various factors, including student and staff safety, transportation and disproportionate effects on traditionally marginalized groups.
There are three options for learning this fall — on-site (or in-person) learning at schools; comprehensive distance learning (or virtual, as seen this spring); or a blended, hybrid model of the two.
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District leadership is currently leaning toward a hybrid approach.
In this, K-2 students would attend school in person Monday through Thursday, whereas grades 3-12 would attend school in person either Mondays through Wednesdays or Tuesdays through Thursdays to stagger the number of students in schools on any given day.
Virtual tools would be used when not learning in person.
All K-12 students would have Monday as a student support day to provide additional help for "targeted students."
Families already can opt for the district's new, comprehensive online system called the Enhanced Digital and Guided Education Academy, known as EDGE.
Families have been told to apply for the program by July 31, but district spokeswoman Lillian Govus said that deadline is just to give the district a pulse of how many people are interested. They will not exclude people after the date, she said.
However, the online academy is only available in English unless enough dual-language students, particularly Spanish speakers, enroll. Younger English language learners are not encouraged to do the online academy, Govus said.
Concerns about reopening schools
There are still several questions about what reopening schools would look like, including the role teachers and staff will have and how they will enforce things like social distancing with young children.
About 125 people signed up to give testimony for Tuesday's meeting.
Of those heard during the allotted time, several continued conversations around removing school resource officers and the petition for former board chairwoman Marty Heyen and member Paul Kyllo to resign following claims of racially insensitive acts and ties to white supremacy groups.
Salem-Keizer board: Petition grows for Marty Heyen, Paul Kyllo to resign
Those who spoke about instruction this fall, including teachers and parents, were not in favor of any in-person learning.
"While Oregon has fared better than many states, we would be making a huge mistake if we attempt to return to any status quo by having students in schools part-time," said community member Kyla Goulding.
"Because there will be COVID-19 cases if we return to school ... with those cases, there will be deaths," she said. "If we go through with this hybrid plan, what is an acceptable loss of life in order to maintain some kind of status quo?"
Goulding pointed to the belief that children are less affected or likely to die from the virus, but that they play a role in spreading the disease, especially if they live with someone who is vulnerable.
"Apparently it's not safe enough to have our school board meetings in person," she said to the members, who were convened via video chat. "Whether it's your intention or not, the message is clear — you value your own safety enough to not meet in person.
"Do you also value our children's lives and safety? Our school staffs'? Our community members?"
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Steps before the new semester
The board is scheduled to finish reviewing the district's initial plan the next two and work out the next steps on July 28. Budget changes and financial allocations have not yet been discussed.
The board also has committed to giving the community an answer by the end of August for whether they'll keep or eliminate contracts with school resource officers that some argue contribute to a school-to-prison pipeline.
Salem-Keizer is not the only district dealing with these decisions.
When it comes to school resource officers, some districts, including Portland Public Schools, already have voted to remove school resource officers.
Concerning reopening in the fall, all school districts have to develop a plan in accordance with the Oregon Department of Education's "Ready Schools, Safe Learners" guidance.
In Woodburn, members of the Woodburn Education Association teachers' union voted this week — 81.3% to 18.7% — against any form of in-person instruction for the coming fall, according to leaders of the association.
This is happening as a statewide petition to stop the reopening of public schools garnered more than 3,000 signatures by Tuesday.
For more information regarding Salem-Keizer, go to salkeiz.k12.or.us. School board information, dates and agendas can be found at salkeiz.k12.or.us/schoolboard.
Natalie Pate is the education reporter for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at npate@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6745, Twitter @Nataliempate or Facebook at https://ift.tt/22QBVib.
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