3 weeks of hybrid learning proposed
Proposed revised reopening plans for Souderton Area School District will push the start of school back one week and change the first three weeks for students scheduled for in-school classes to a hybrid of in-school and online learning.
“It gives us more time to plan, but also gets students acclimated to being back in the building,” Su
perintendent Frank Gallagher said in a telephone interview. “It reduces the numbers for the first three weeks.”
During that time, the district will continue to monitor the percentage rate of Montgomery County COVID-19 tests that show the person being tested has the virus, he said. If the county continues to remain at below 5 percent of those tested having the virus, the students previously scheduled for five days a week in class would switch to that after the three weeks of hybrid.
The Souderton Area School Board is scheduled to vote on the plan at its Thursday meeting, which will be held as a teleconference.
Under the plan, classes for both those scheduled for in-school programs and the more than 1,600 scheduled for Souderton Area Online Academy online programs would begin Tuesday, Sept. 8, a week later than the previously scheduled Sept. 1. The only change for the students in the online option would be the starting date.
The hybrid classes would be split into two sections, with students whose last names begin with A through L in one section and those with last names beginning with M through Z in the other section. During the first week, all the students would be off on Monday for the Labor Day holiday and the hybrid sections would have two days in class and two days off.
“This will allow for smaller groups of students, divided alphabetically, to meet their teachers, receive and become familiar with new devices and software, and become accustomed to new school procedures such as social distancing and mask wearing,” Gallagher and school board President Ken Keith said in information on the district website.
During the next two weeks, the hybrid students would spend two days in the school building and three doing virtual learning from home.
On Tuesday, Sept. 29, the schedule would change to five days a week in school.
The district had previously planned for only inclass or online options and not to have a hybrid.
“The Souderton Area School District remains committed to reopening our schools to provide inperson instruction for our students. We know that inperson schooling is vital to the healthy development of our children. We understand this change will be frustrating and upsetting for some of our parents, while others will be pleased. Our goal remains to provide the best possible educational experience for all of our students, and we will do all we can to make this school year a positive one,” Gallagher and Keith said in the district information.