District to offer virtual classes

The Daniel Boone School District has changed its plans for how older students will start the new school year.

The school board originally voted July 27 to have all students start the school year with in-person classes, reopening schools from the COVID-19 shutdown mandated by the state in midMarch.

But Monday night the board decided to change course, voting instead to have middle and high school students use a mix of inperson and virtual learning. The

idea is to limit the number of people in school buildings at one time.

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade will still be attending in-person classes five days a week.

The district is also offering a fully virtual option for parents who do not wish to send their children to inperson classes.

Along with the shift to a hybrid education model for older students, the school board also Monday voted to push back the first day of classes. The new school

year will now start Aug. 31.

A letter was sent to parents Wednesday detailing the changes.

Superintendent Brett Cooper said the move was made as somewhat of a compromise between school leaders with differing opinions. Cooper originally recommended students in all grades should use a hybrid model, but the school board opted for full in-person.

And at Monday’s meeting, the decision to go partially hybrid only passed by a 4-3 vote.

Cooper said the older students taking part in the hybrid model will be split into two groups.

One group will have inperson classes Monday through Thursday, while the other learns virtually.

The following week the groups will switch.

All middle and high school students will learn virtually on Fridays.

Cooper said the system will allow students to be out of school buildings for 10-day stretches, which should allow enough time for COVID-19 symptoms to present themselves if a student becomes infected. That should help prevent infected students from entering schools.

When students are learning virtually, Cooper said, they sometimes will be live-streaming their teacher presenting a lesson and at other times will be doing other work.

District officials said families will be receiving more details about the reopening plan soon, including information on transportation. They also asked for understanding.

“Your continued patience and flexibility is greatly appreciated as Daniel Boone School District cabinet-level administrators, as well as district administrative team administrators, continue meeting throughout the remaining few weeks to engage in further discussions related to the many uncertainties that, no doubt, lie ahead,” read the letter sent to parents and signed by Cooper.

“Your continued patience and flexibility is greatly appreciated as Daniel Boone School District cabinet-level administrators, as well as district administrative team administrators, continue meeting throughout the remaining few weeks to engage in further discussions related to the many uncertainties that, no doubt, lie ahead.” — Superintendent Brett Cooper