Washington schools haven’t gone to hybrid system – yet

WASHINGTON - The Washington Community Schools are preparing in case they have to transition to a hybrid model, said Superintendent Willie Stone. But the discussion is only preparation.

During the school board meeting Wednesday evening, Stone said he has received calls from parents who believe the school was going to make a decision to go hybrid.

'We are preparing because we don't want to get caught not being prepared,” Stone said.

Though COVID-19 case numbers are rising in the county, the school is seeing low case numbers. Wednesday the school had nine students test positive, the highest all school year.

On Tuesday the student absenteeism percentage was 4.02 percent and Wednesday it was 2.43 percent. The percentage takes into consideration positive COVID-19 cases and absences for other illnesses. It does not include absences due to exposure. There were 59 students quarantined Tuesday and 88 Wednesday.

Stone said the mitigation strategies at school are running smoothly and most of the positive cases are from outside contacts.

What will force the school to transition into hybrid learning of virtual learning is the staff, Stone said.

'It won't be the student absenteeism, it will be the lack of ability to provide education because of lack of staff,” Stone said.

If the case numbers do spike, Stone recommends the school transitions to a hybrid model, especially for the younger children.

In a hybrid model, students are broken into A and B groups and attend school every other day. Stone said he has divided the students into the two groups, taking into consideration family units.

Parents would be notified of a transition in many ways including emails and messages from the emergency alert system.