K-4 schools to fully reopen April 12
Remote, hybrid models in use for a year; children still allowed to learn from home
KINGSTON, N.Y. » The Kingston school district hopes to have all students in grades kindergarten through four back in their classrooms full-time starting Monday, April 12.
It would be the first time since March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic was just starting to take hold in the U.S., that instruction would be entirely in-person for at least some Kingston students.
Since last spring, students in the Kingston school district, and most other districts, have taken classes either entirely online or in a hybrid model of online and in-person classes.
The Kingston district started the 2020-21 school year with remote-only classes. Elementary schoolers shifted to the hybrid model in late October, followed by the older students in early November. COVID case spikes, though, have forced temporary returns to all-remote learning at some points during the school year.
School district Superintendent Paul Padalino said during a Board of Education meeting Wednesday that protocols to be used when the young students return full-time are being developed on a building-by-building basis.
“Each plan is unique, based on the staffing and the physical building.” he said.
The Kingston school district has seven elementary schools, all of which have grades kindergarten through four. The two middle schools have grades five through eight, and the high school has grades nine through 12.
Padalino said elementary school parents can request that their children continue to take classes online even after the schools fully reopen.
“By next week, we will solicit information from parents regarding their intention for the final 10 weeks of school, including new transportation requests,” he said.
Padalino said the plan for fully reopening the elementary schools includes outdoor activities.
“The opportunity for outdoor learning, outdoor dining, outdoor mask breaks, recess and physical education will add to our capacity the elementary schools,” he said.
There was no discussion at Wednesday’s board meeting about impending changes to the current instruction models for the middle schools and high school. Currently, only students with disabilities and “English language learners” take in-school classes four days a week, and on a voluntarily basis.
Padalino, though, said efforts are underway to expand in-person classes for older students who are struggling with assignments.
“Our building principals have been working with their staff to identify students who are in academic jeopardy and bring those students in more frequently to help ... get them back on track,” he said.