Seekonk Schools Will Begin With Hybrid Model

Seekonk Schools will begin the school year with a hybrid learning model. A preliminary reopening plan was submitted to the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) last month. A comprehensive plan is due to DESE on Friday. “We need to have a positive attitude and a growth mindset that we can do this working together,” Superintendent Rich Drolet said at Monday’s school committee meeting. “Starting the year in a hybrid model is I firmly believe in the best interest of students.”

School officials acknowledge sticking to a hybrid learning model will be challenging due to the continual fluctuation in infection rates in Massachusetts. “I think we’re at the mercy of the virus,” Drolet said. “One thing we’ve learned is that things change if not weekly, daily. If not daily, hourly, so if the rates were to spike in the matter of a day or two, things could change.”  “If rates continue to drop then yes, I believe full classroom instruction is possible as long as it is safe for students and staff,” Drolet told the Reporter. “Per DESE guidance, adults (and students) are not required to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing. If they are symptomatic, then our school-based COVID-19 point-of-contacts (school nurses) would recommend for staff or families to work with and consult with their doctors/pediatricians to determine if COVID-19 testing was recommended/needed.”

Drolet said the district is looking into adopting mask-wearing policies (with increased mask-wearing expectations), that the school committee may adopt. “Under these policies, students would typically be excluded from school if they decline or refuse to wear a mask and parents/guardians would be called to pick their students up if they refused to wear a mask,” Drolet noted.  Drolet added that the majority of teachers that were surveyed preferred a hybrid or full in-person return-to-school as opposed to a full remote model.

On July 27, Education Commissioner Jeff Riley announced the start of school in Massachusetts will be delayed by 10 days to allow for more educator training. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade will start in the middle of September, and the school year will be reduced to 170 days.

The 75 page Comprehensive Return to School Plan is on the school department’s website: http://www.seekonk.k12.ma.us/

Some highlights:

• The PK-12 student population will be divided into two cohorts: Cohort A and Cohort B;
• Cohort A (last names A-K) will include about 50 percent of the PK-12 student population who will attend school in-person 2 days per week (usually Tuesday/Wednesday);
• Cohort B will include the other 50% of students (last names L-Z) who will attend school in-person 2 other days per week (usually Thursday/Friday);
• In this hybrid learning environment and remote learning, each group will learn remotely the other three days per week. Some synchronous learning with Cohorts A & B combined may be able to take place on the district-wide remote learning day (usually Monday)
• “Virtual Learning Academy” as a Choice: In a survey to our families, 10-15% indicated they would choose a 100% virtual learning option for their student if offered this choice. Parents/guardians have the option to choose a Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) if they prefer - with the understanding that the Virtual Learning Academy may not provide as robust offerings as, or replace the full benefits of, learning in-person
• Social distancing will be implemented as much as possible; under the hybrid model below, in-class social distancing will be possible