SWANSEA -- The School Committee on Wednesday adopted a hybrid learning model for this fall.
Under this model, students would be divided into cohorts: Cohort A would attend in-person school on Monday and Tuesdays and Cohort B would attend in-person school on Thursday and Friday. On Wednesdays, remote learning would occur for all students. Cohort A would engage in remote learning only on Thursday and Fridays whole Cohort B would engage in remote learning Mondays and Tuesdays, according to plans.
“All kids will be in-person two days and remote three days,” Superintendent John Robidoux told the School Committee on Wednesday
Robidoux presented three hybrid models to the School Committee but recommended the “AABB” model. The School Committee adopted it under the condition that it could switch to a different model and revisit the issue.
Robidoux said building administrators will try to group siblings in the same cohort so they all attend in-person school on the same days.
Robidoux also said that parents will have the option of a full remote model if they are not uncomfortable sending students due to COVID-19’s current status or the possibility of a second wave. Those students will be known as Cohort C.
Students who are identified as high needs or at risk, including English Language Learners, would have the option of attending in-person school four days per week. Robidoux added that these at-risk students are usually those who are in separate classrooms. He also said homeless students would be allowed to attend in-person school four days per week.
Robidoux said there will be no rotating schedule for the students, so students every day of the week -- remote or in-person -- would learn the same subjects during the same times.
Robidoux said that unlike the spring, the district now has the bandwidth to livestream classroom instruction.
Robidoux said other hybrid options included the option of making students in grades 8 to 12 learn remotely only while spreading out the kindergarten through grade 7 population throughout all school buildings.
It was discovered that there would be several logistical challenges with that model, he said. Another hybrid option would have students switch to remote and in-person on a daily basis, Robidoux said.
Robidoux said district leaders and a committee, comprising various stakeholders including parents, helped make the decision to recommend the “AABB” hybrid model. He also said that the committee rejected the full, in-person model and the full-remote model.
Robidoux said grading will be conducted and attendance will be taken daily.
“We’ll go with grading from Day 1,” Robidoux told one parent.
Robidoux also said that the heating ventilation and air conditioning systems in all school buildings have been updated.
With mandated masks, social distancing, hand sanitizing, more training for nurses and the improved HVAC system, it should help reduce the risk.
“We have a much less of a chance when we have a (good) system in place,” he said.
For transportation, kids must wear masks and so do the bus drivers, Robidioux said, adding that windows will be open and there would be only one kid per seat.
Robidoux said unless it is absolutely freezing or pouring, windows would remain open and bus capacity should be around ⅓ of its traditional capacity, he said.
Not all parents were happy with the plan. Many lined up at the microphone at Case High School to ask questions and present concerns.
Scott Adams said the district should ask for more funding.
“There is a significant financial impact to the residents of this town by going to online learning,” Adams said.
He said online learning is expensive and it will be an inconvenience for parents, who will have to find ways to direct students at home. Some of these parents work during the day, creating an additional challenge.
Robidoux and committee members said money is not the only issue, but safety as well.
If needed, Robidoux said he would have no issue asking town or state authorities for more funding.