D158 middle and high school students to return to full day in-person learning
HUNTLEY – It was announced at the March 18 District 158 (D158) Board of Education meeting that middle and high school students currently in the hybrid model of learning, would be making a full transition to in-person learning five days a week starting on April 5.
This was in response to the updates in guidelines the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced regarding the recommended physical distance that can be maintained for in-person learning. Which went from six feet to no less than three feet.
Assistant superintendent Erika Schlichter presented to the board members, a few slides detailing some data points into how student achievement has been maintained up until this point.
She explained how despite the challenges of remote learning at the beginning, students still had the opportunity to continue certain electives and exploratory learning, some elements such as a drones and robotics course, were even made available to students for the first time ever. She also noted that special needs students were having success meeting their IEP goals.
Among other highlights of Schlichter’s presentation included pointing out the new steps the district is taking to identify disengaged students as well as continuing to offer access to individual tutoring services with certified staff for all students, free of charge. Additionally, she added that certain innovations were only made possible because of the remote environment.
D158 superintendent Scott Rowe followed up Schlichter’s presentation by providing further details into what the return to in-person learning for students in the secondary level would look like.
“Two weeks ago, I announced that elementary [students] would begin this week, actually on Monday (March 15), five-day, full day in-person. We had a very successful week at the elementary level. We now have space at the secondary level because of the three to six feet change in the guidance. So, we have the ability in the classroom for our secondary students to attend five-day, full day, who already indicated they wanted to be hybrid,” Rowe said.
While Rowe indicated that transportation was an issue the district was trying to combat in terms of some remote students wanting to return to full in-person learning, he did make it a point to mention that the district did have a sufficient transportation capacity to service secondary level students who have been attending the hybrid model.
“Remote students who have indicated a desire to switch to in-person who are able to provide their own transportation, will be allowed to [switch] starting April 5. Remote students who have indicated a desire to switch to in-person who are in need of transportation will remain in remote learning until we have transportation availability for them,” Rowe said in his presentation.
There will be no changes to students who choose to remain in remote learning for the remainder of the school year. Rowe also explained that no major changes would be happening to the existing elementary school in-person learning, other than the classrooms now having closer quarters. Principals at the various elementary schools in the district, have stated they can manage accommodating remote students wanting to do in-person learning, despite the changes in spacing.
As for remote students who receive special services, they will now have the ability to participate in walk-in therapy based upon their progress toward their related service goal, outlined in their IEP. The walk-in therapy sessions will begin April 5, and will be based on the student’s regularly scheduled therapy times, according to Rowe. Parents who decline this option will continue to receive related services through remote instruction.
Moving forward for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year, Schlichter stated that all students will be able to attend two full sessions of summer school either remote or in-person/hybrid, with the first session starting June 7.
An extended school year for students with special needs will also take place during the summer, but is not part of the summer school program, according to Schlichter.
“This is different from most years. It will be open enrollment for all students. There will be no family costs for any of our elementary or middle schools. At the high school, the only cost would be for the credit advancement classes that students choose to take, but any learning recovery course or support would be for no cost,” Schlichter said.
One other major change that would be explored for the next school year would be how to tackle remote learning. Rowe stated during his presentation that remote instruction in the new school year, would only be offered to families with documented increased risk of severe illness or live with someone with increased risk of severe illness.
“For remote learning to be an option in the future, it’s going to have to be accompanied by doctor’s documentation,” Rowe stated.
