The number of students who chose in-person learning in the Park Hill School District increased last week when the window to switch was reopened for three days.
Last week the Park Hill School District unveiled a plan to return to school using a hybrid model that involved in-person learning two days a week and distance learning the other three days a week.
Elementary students who chose in-person learning will go to class every day.
The district gave parents a couple of extra days to choose in-person or remote learning with the changes. Before the hybrid model was unveiled about 75 percent of the district’s students chose in-person learning. That number dropped to 73.5 percent after the window to decide was reopened.
When broken down by age group elementary students who chose in-person learning was slightly lower than the district average at 72.2 percent of students. The number was even lower for middle school students at 71.4 percent. High school students signed up for in-person learning at the highest rate at 78.7 percent.
Since the plan was unveiled teachers have become less concerned about the school opening with the hybrid plan in place. Park Hill National Education Association (PHNEA) President Jill Owens told the Platte County Citizen if teachers are still nervous they’re not telling her.
Owens said overwhelmingly students and parents chose to have in-person learning which means teachers need to figure out a way to do it.
“We have to do that with safety in mind,” Owens said.
Park Hill administrators and teachers have been working on a plan to reopen schools while also carrying on negotiations about how the school will operate. Owens said sacrifices were made on both sides.
“I definitely feel like we have been part of the process,” Owens said. “There has been compromise on both sides to get where we are today.”
The school board approved changes to the academic calendar last week that included postponing the first day of school until Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Owens applauded the move and said it will give teachers more time to prepare. Teachers have been working on distance learning curriculum and processes since March.
“If it makes the product that we send to kids, if it makes our lessons and education better, then that’s good,” Owens said. “If we do long-distance learning we need to be better prepared than we were in March.”
The teachers and the union have taken some criticism from the public with some saying the union is pushing for distance learning.
Board president Kimberlee Reid read comments from the public at the last meeting on Monday, Aug. 3. One comment asked board members if the union was driving the discussions and wanted to know how many teachers had said they did not want in-person learning.
“This does not allow for an effective education plan for our students,” wrote Roxsen Koch. “I ask the school board to have courage to lead this district and to make the decision that is best for our students and our community at-large and not what is being forced at your feet by the teachers union.”
Some board members have balked at a plan that doesn’t include in-person learning all school days. Board member Scott Monsees said he was afraid once school started the district would never get out of the hybrid model.
Owens said anyone saying that teachers are driving a push for distance learning hasn’t been paying attention or doesn’t have all the facts.
“Any decision that you see has had hours and hours of behind-the-scenes negotiations, discussions and brainstorming,” Owens said. “If there’s anything that I’ve learned this summer it’s that no one can predict what conditions are going to be two weeks from now let alone the whole semester. The decision is so fluid I wouldn’t get locked into any one point of view knowing that conditions are constantly changing.”
Park Hill superintendent Dr. Jeanette Cowherd told board members last week that all of the decisions are being driven by what health professionals are telling them. Board member Jan Bolin suggested the district wasn’t getting all the information.
A comment was made about local control; and Bolin seized on the opportunity to make a point.
“Information would be very nice to have local control,” Bolin said.
Owens said overall the union agrees and believes local health officials should be the loudest voices in the room.
“I don’t have any problem when science is the basis for the decision,” Owens said. “What might be a good answer on Monday might be outdated by Tuesday.”