Waukesha School District votes for 'hybrid' learning model to start the school year

Waukesha School District votes for 'hybrid' learning model to start the school year

Waukesha School District board members voted to return to school in a hybrid learning model later this month.

Earlier in the night, they rejected a plan for a phased-in return to school.

The vote came at after 11 p.m.

Wednesday night during the hours-long board meeting.

PARENTS AND STUDENTS BANDTOGETHER IN WAUKESHA TO FIGHTFOR IN-PERSON CLASSROOMLEARNING THIS FALL.AND THEIR VOICES WERE HEARD.AFTER HOURS OF DEBATE UNTILLAST LATE NIGHT... THE SCHOOLBOARD VOTED IN FAVOR OR IN-PERSON LEARNING... WITH SOMECAVEATS.THIS WAS AFTER THEWAUKESHA SCHOOL DISTRICT WASEXPECTING TO START STUDENTSENTIRELY ONLINE, AND GO BACKTO IN-PERSON LEARNING IN SLOWPHASES.OUR RYAN JENKINS SHOWSUS HOW THE DEBATE AND DECISIONPLAYED OUT.THE "HYBRID" MODEL OF LEARNINGHAS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLSTUDENTS TO SCHOOL BACK TOCLASS TWO DAYS PER WEEK, ANDLEARNING REMOTELY THREE DAYSPER WEEK.ELEMENTARY STUDENTSWILL GO TO SCHOOL FIVE DAYSPER WEEK.(VO)PROTESTERS METTHE SCHOOL BOARD OUTSIDE OFLAST NIGHT'S MEETING, CALLINGFOR FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION.BECAUSE OF CORONAVIRUSCONCERNS, THE DISTRICT DRAFTEDA PLAN TO START THE SCHOOLYEAR FULLY VIRTUALLY, THENTRANSITION TO FACE-TO-FACEINSTRUCTION ONCE SAFE TO DOSO.... THAT'S WHAT WAS SET TOBE VOTED ON LAST NIGHT.HOWEVER, WHEN SURVEYED, MOSTPEOPLE WANTED TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.SOME OF THOSEAGAINST THE IDEA OF VIRTUALLEARNING HAD CONCERNS ABOUTPOOR LEARNING CONDITIONS WITHONLINE SCHOOLING.WHILE, LASTNIGHT, OTHERS STILL ADVOCATEDTO START THE YEAR VIRTUALLYFOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OFTHE COMMUNITY.(SOT- CRYSTALTILLY - STUDENT -40:59 i cansay honestly that i didn'tlearn much or anything thispast spring.

41:03)(SOT-NO CG?-19;19:20 the phased plan isalso a face to face plan butit is data driven with markersto getting us to a safesustained face 2 faceinstruction.

19:30)(RYAN ONCAM)THESE PLANS ARE STILL VERYFRESH - THE VOTE DIDN'T HAPPENUNTIL AFTER ELEVEN LAST NIGHT.THE DISTRICT SAYS FAMILIES CANEXPECT TO LEARN MORE ABOUTWHAT THE HYBRID MODEL OFLEARNING WILL LOOK LIKE IN THECOMING DAYS.REPORTING INWAUKESHA, RYAN JENKI