Highlands to offer in-person instruction 4 days a week

Highlands School District will begin four day in-person instruction on March 29.

The change, approved by the school board this week, was made after a district survey found that 80% of parents and caregivers were in favor of it.

The survey did not provide respondents with the option of staying with the existing hybrid model, in which students are split into two groups that each attend school in person two days a week and learn remotely the other three days.

Instead, the survey asked respondents to choose either four days of in-person instruction with one virtual day each week, fully remote instruction or attending Highlands Virtual Academy, which also is fully remote.

Fully remote instruction is available only to families of students in the hybrid model who are not comfortable having children return to school buildings four days a week. Students enrolled in the virtual academy would stay in it if they decline the four-day, in-person model.

Under the four-day model, students will be in schools Mondays through Thursdays. Fridays would be a remote day for all students.

Students and staff will still need to wear face masks. They also will need to adhere to social distancing guidelines, but the district said staying 6 feet apart in classrooms, on buses and in cafeterias and common areas will likely not be possible for most of the day because of increased numbers.

Social distancing has been a major hurdle for schools aiming to open. A new study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases suggested that, if masks are worn, students can be seated as close as 3 feet apart with no increased risk to themselves or teachers.

Highlands said on its website that parents will get letters by mail and email confirming their selections on the survey for their children’s instruction and transportation needs for the rest of the school year.

Parents who want to change their selection or find a mistake should contact the secretary of their child’s building by the end of the school day on Monday, according to the district. Requests to change instructional models or transportation arrangements will not be honored after that day, the district said.

The district’s revised health and safety plan is available online at the district’s website.