Highland returning to hybrid learning model on Thursday

RIVERSIDE - The Highland Community School District will be returning to a hybrid model later this week.

Superintendent Ken Crawford discussed the change with school board members during a meeting Monday night.

He said administration discussed the options and settled on a hybrid model for the secondary and complete in-person for primary. This model will start Thursday.

Crawford said at the elementary level, he believes the groups are able to separate and the students will benefit from in-person learning.

After Christmas, the staff will assess whether or not to return in-person.

'Our hope is to return the entire district to 100 percent on-site when we return to school in January,” Crawford said.

This change comes quickly after the school district had to switch to a virtual model due to a lack of bus drivers on Nov. 17.

Primary school Principal Jane O'Leary and secondary Principal Angela Hazelett discussed some of the work being done by the teachers and highlighted some of the creativity. O'Leary showed board members a site made by the physical education teacher that links to different workout videos.

O'Leary discussed how much teachers appreciated the summer professional development regarding virtual learning.

Board member Megan Allen asked the school principals what will be done differently to prevent students from acting as if the virtual day is a day off.

Hazelett said teachers are telling parents to keep students on a schedule and continue a routine on virtual learning days.

Hazelett and O'Leary said they are both proud of the teachers for the work they put into the virtual learning and the collaboration. The teachers switched to a 100 percent virtual teaching model with only 48 hours notice. The principals said the teachers were prepared for the quick transition.