APS SAYS INFO NEEDED

Key factor in the decision is vaccines for school employees

School district to revisit in-person learning at Feb. 17 meeting.

In just under two weeks, the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education is slated to revisit in-person learning after an extensive discussion and debate on Wednesday.

Monica Armenta, a spokeswoman for the district, said board members will be given more information at the Feb. 17 meeting on reopening schools to some face-to-face learning.

In the meantime, students will continue with virtual schooling after the board tabled the issue.

“The district will begin to survey and work with the schools to see which staff are interested in coming back and working with children on site,” Interim Superintendent Scott Elder said. “From that, we will have a good idea of, at each school, how we can service students at the site.”

Members showed interest in bringing back small groups of students through a targeted approach. In a news release, the district gave such examples as “high school seniors on the cusp of graduating, and kindergartners, sixth-graders and freshmen who have never experienced in-person learning at their school.”

School districts and charter schools were recently given permission to bring students of all ages back to campus in small groups.

According to state Public Education Department guidance, the groups are allowed in schools primarily doing remote learning as long as set groupings of students are kept together and a maximum of 50% of students participate at one time.

But there are no specifics on what small groups could look like at APS yet.

Elder acknowledged that parents may be disappointed with the limited in-person learning.

A key factor in the debate Wednesday night about opening schools was COVID-19 vaccinations for school employees.

Currently, K-12 staff are unable to get the vaccine in New Mexico based on their profession, but could get it if they fell into an approved group, including if they are at least 75 years old or if they are at risk for complications from COVID-19.

Gabriella Blakey, interim chief operations officer, said 90% of staff have said they want the vaccine and about 20% have been vaccinated with at least the first dose.