School districts approaching return to in-person learning differently

According to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, schools can return to in-person learning on Feb. 8, but the decision on how to return to in-person learning is made district by district.

The state is allowing schools and districts statewide to “safely expand into inperson learning” as the pandemic continues.

“There is no substitute for in-person learning and there's no negotiating about the health and safety of students, families and educators,” Lujan Grisham said in a live video on Facebook on Jan. 26.

Both the Moriarty-edgewood School district and the Estancia Municipal School District will be returning to inperson learning using the hybrid model on Feb. 8. Under the hybrid model, only half of a school's students can be in the building at once.

“We do plan to have our 7-12 grades students back to in-person learning as soon as possible. We would like them back as early as Feb. 8, but we don't have a solid date yet,” said Estancia Classical Valley Academy Principal Jennifer Mock.

“EMHS will provide a small, voluntary, hybrid option for any interested students by Feb. 22. This will make sure our athletes are eligible for competition. The hybrid option will allow students a place in small groups on campus to access their classes, which will continue to be delivered remotely,” said East Mountain High School Principal Trey Smith. “We are simultaneously convening a task force that will make recommendations to our Governing Board on ways to bring more students back throughout the term, especially for fun, community-building activities.”

Torrance County has been working closely with the state health department to bring vaccines clinics to the residents in the area. There have been vaccine clinics at Moriarty, Estancia and Mountainair schools, and at PMS in Mountainair. “With the lack of vaccines in the state/nation we are unable to vaccinate all of our educators at this time,” Salazar said. “We hope by providing these clinics to vaccinate the most highrisk residents in our communities and then get our staff vaccinated soon there after.”

“Our staff have been participating in the DOH clinics held here in the Estancia Valley. As well, we are grateful to Dr. Stogner, who has reach out when there have been a few 'extras' so that our staff could go over to the clinic on short notice. Because of these two efforts, as of Friday, the few remaining teachers wishing a vaccine have been vaccinated; so 100% of the teachers wishing a vaccine will have received round one of the vaccine,” Sims said.

“I only have three staff who have received their first vaccine shot. The rest are registered and waiting. Until more of our educators receive the vaccine, we cannot expect to do much more than small group activities, tutoring, etc.,” Smith said.

The Moriarty-edgewood School District is hoping to have all of its staff vaccinated that want to be, before the upcoming school year as they are planning to return to 100% in-person learning.

Salazar stressed the importance of face-to-face learning. She said some students have adapted well to online learning but the school district wants to make sure they are meeting all students' needs.

Sims said a change in the middle of the school year that benefits the students is for the best.

She said while everyone has been making the best out of long distance learning, students still need the support of face-to-face instruction because it also gives them access to in-school resources and their peers. “For that reason, even though change is hard, we are looking forward to welcoming our students back into schools mid-year,” Sims said.