Licking Heights to go from virtual to hybrid learning

Licking Heights Schools will move from a virtual-only to a hybrid education system in October.

The school board voted for the transition in a meeting Tuesday.

In the summer, the district had been on track to open with a hybrid model, but the board rethought that option and instead voted in mid-august to begin the year with only online learning.

In a letter to parents explaining the shift, Superintendent Philip Wagner wrote: “Navigating school during a pandemic continues to be a challenge, and each decision impacts students, families and staff in a variety of ways. We have heard from many families over the past month, and we know that while some families feel it is critical to immediately return to school, others believe we should still take our time to experience virtual learning before returning in-person.”

Under the transition plan approved Tuesday, families with last names beginning A through J will attend classes on Mondays and Tuesdays, and those in the K-Z group will attend on Thursdays

and Fridays.

“We will do our best to honor students from the same household with different last names,” Wagner said. “Students will engage in virtual learning through Schoolsplp on the days they are not in the building.”

Parents have until Sunday to complete an opt-in form for in-person/hybrid learning.

The new plan calls for grades K-6 to begin in-person/hybrid instruction the week of Oct. 12. Grades 7-12 are to begin the week of Oct. 26.

The Licking Heights district covers parts of Licking and Franklin counties, and Wagner noted in his letter to parents:

“Though our county alert levels (Franklin and Licking) have improved from red (level 3) to orange (level 2) over the past three weeks, we have, once again, recently seen local case counts trend upwards — primarily in Franklin County. Our District’s reopening plans are contingent upon public-health conditions remaining the same or improving. We will continue to work with our local health departments to evaluate data and information over the following weeks.”