Will kids still have at-home school option next year?

Have a question about South Florida schools and COVID-19? Sun Sentinel reporter Lois Solomon will find the answer. Email your question to AskLois@ sunsentinel.com.

“Do you know whether we will be teaching hybrid again next year? When will that be decided? Personally speaking I really hope we are not, I am not sure I can do it another full year.” — Britt Ellyn, Palm Beach County teacher, Lake Worth

Every parent and teacher, and probably many kids, are wondering this, but nothing is going to be decided in the immediate future as schools monitor COVID-19’s spread and the progress of the vaccine to combat it.

Teaching hybrid, or to students at home and in the classroom simultaneously, has proven frustrating to all parties. Almost everyone agrees in-school learning is best, but many parents remain hesitant to send their kids back, even though most studies show schools are safe if everyone wears masks and maintains highlevel hygiene.

Teachers hopefully will be eligible for the vaccine before the next school year begins, although it remains unclear if children will be able to get it any time soon. In either case, discussions with the school district about options for next year will begin in the coming weeks, said Justin Katz, president of Palm Beach County’s teachers union.

“The hope is that we return to a year that is as normal as possible,” Katz said. “The technology that teachers have learned this year has long-term value beyond the pandemic. There will still be students and parents who have a desire for distance learning. We’re opposed to the hybrid model, but we might want to create our own version of Florida Virtual School [where some teachers instruct online only].”

Depending on statewide rules that are still to be determined for next year, Katz said he hopes to hammer out an agreement by June. As for Broward, no answers yet.

“We’ve asked,” union president Anna Fusco said. “The district has said they’re not working on that, they’re still figuring out this school year.”

Are schools doing PE classes?

“My kids are learning from home, but I’m curious whether schools are still offering physical education during the pandemic. Is it outside or inside? Do they have to wear masks if they play outside?” — Broward parent via Facebook

State law still requires that elementary school students get 20 minutes of recess a day, although charter schools are exempt. The complicating factor now is teachers are teaching both online and in person, so they can’t take students outside while maintaining online students’ attention. Here’s how a Broward schools spokeswoman said they are handling this.

“In elementary school and upper classes, P.E. is offered with modifications, as teachers are simultaneously engaging home learners and school learners within a class, limiting the option of activities,” she said. “A popular approach in the upper grades has been to have one teacher engage online learners while another takes the in-school students outside. Many elementary schools are conducting P.E. classes inside their rooms.”

The kids have to keep their masks on for indoor P.E., but if they’re outside and can stay six feet apart, they’re allowed to take them off. The rules are the same in Palm Beach County schools.

Why students are staying home

On Jan. 25, I reported on how many kids had returned to classrooms for the second semester in Broward County. The numbers aren’t high; only about a third go to school buildings each day, up a little bit from 26% last semester. The rest learn from home.

After the column was posted in the Concerned Citizens of Broward County Facebook group, parents started detailing their reasons for not sending their kids back. I thought the explanations were really interesting, so with permission from the group’s moderator, here are some of the comments.

“People want to send their kids back to school. They are not home because of their fear of COVID. They are home because it is ridiculous to have kids in the classroom staring at a computer all day. The high schools are the worst offenders. Some of the teachers go as far as not interacting at all unless it is online. My daughter has a teacher that will not even say hello to them unless it’s online. She has been the only one in class, and this teacher acts like she isn’t there. Why would students want to go on campus, lug their computer around, just to be ignored? They can sit at home comfortably.”

“They just got to figure out the social distancing and hire more teachers to teach smaller classrooms. On-site learning is the best but they need smaller classes to accommodate social distancing.”

“Other schools in the state are open fully and have almost full participation and do all the normal things kids should be doing at school, except they have to wear a mask. That’s when I told Lila she can go back again...when school is school again, with(out) a mask.”

“Parents don’t want their kids in masks all day with e-learning. It is so stressful on the kids.”

I learned a lot from these comments. Parents want a sense of normalcy to return to the school building, and are willing to wait until COVID-19 is conquered before allowing their kids to return.

Returning to school after quarantine

“My child contracted COVID-19 and has been quarantined without symptoms for 14 days. I need to know exactly what I must provide so my child can return to in-person school. One person told me a letter from Palm Beach County, but I can’t find who to contact for the letter. Another said I needed two negative COVID tests. I can’t find the information anywhere. Help!” — Monica Rodriguez, Boca Raton

No paperwork is needed, according to the Palm Beach County School District’s COVID Guiding Document. It says: “A student may return back to school once he or she remains isolated for 10 days and is symptom-free, including no fever (100.4 degrees F and above), in the previous 24 hours.” There’s no discussion of documentation, but call your school principal if you have any concerns.

About sick teachers returning to school, if students need to take the SAT to get into Florida’s universities, and about how many students are returning to school buildings.