(PRESS RELEASE) – The Spring Lake Park School Board, at its August 10 meeting, reviewed the 2020-2021 School Year Plan and approved a resolution to begin the 2020-2021 school year in a Modified Campus Schedule (Hybrid) model. The district will also provide full-time distance learning for those who choose it.
The board also approved a change to the calendar to push back the first days of school to Thursday, September 10, 2020 for all students. Teaching staff return on August 31, 2020 and this change provides two additional days of professional learning they need to learn new health and safety protocols and learning models and structures. Previously scheduled days of instruction for September 8-9, 2020 will be replaced on December 4, 2020 and February 11, 2020. The updated calendar is available online.
Information provided by families over the past week has been instrumental to further refining the Modified Campus Schedule (hybrid) plan, specifically for elementary students. In brief:
- Students in grades K-1 will come to school five days a week following all recommended health and safety guidelines.
- Students in grades 2-12 will have 2 days of learning at school and 3 days of learning at home. Students will be split into two groups – an A group (last names A-L) and a B group (last names M-Z) will attend on alternating schedules. A group will be at school Mondays and Thursdays, B group will be at school Tuesdays and Fridays. Wednesdays will be at home learning days. Students with different last names living in the same household will be grouped for learning on the same schedules.
Students who begin the year in the Modified Campus Schedule (Hybrid) Model will be able to transition to full-time distance learning at any time if they choose.
Making and changing choices by Wednesday, August 12
More than 70 percent of district families have shared their intentions for how they will begin the school year in a survey completed over the last week. At this point, 66 percent of those responding will begin the year in the hybrid model and 34 percent will be doing full-time distance learning.
With a new level of detail now available to families, the window to make or change choices is extended through the end of the day Wednesday, August 12. District families are asked to:
- Complete the survey (if they haven’t already) indicating their choices for learning and transportation for the beginning of the school year. The survey will remain open through Wednesday. After Wednesday, we will assume any students we haven’t heard from will be coming to school in the hybrid model.
- Submit any changes to choices you have already made by emailing communications@district16.org.
Next steps
School leaders continue planning and preparation at the building level. They are working now to solidify student schedules and transportation details. District families will begin receiving the next level of detail from their student’s school after August 19.
“This school year will start unlike any other,” says Jeff. “We continue to be grateful for the patience, understanding and support of our families and community as we adjust to changing guidelines and public health conditions to keep learning moving forward and everyone in our schools safe and healthy.”
The latest information is being updated and make available at SpringLakeParkSchools.org/Plan2020. Language translation services are available on the website. This information hub also includes an evolving list of Frequently Asked Questions.
