With COVID-19 cases in the community fluctuating in recent weeks and the safety of students and staff of the utmost importance, Owensboro Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Constant said the district would present a learning plan for the spring semester by early November.
“There are challenges with the A/B method we are exploring right now,” he said. “Remember we are only on our seventh day, so I ask for everyone to lend us some grace and understanding as we navigate these hybrid learning models together. As we hover between orange and red [zones], it’s most advisable to keep limiting our numbers of people inside any building.”
Constant said OPS will continue with the A/B model for the time being, though they will continuously look into the data coming from the Green River District Health Department in making decisions about in-person versus distance learning for students and teachers.
Two weeks from now, OPS will review the A/B model both internally and externally, Constant said.
“We will look at the teaching and learning of working with this model and what may need to be addressed,” he said. “We will also get feedback from our families on what they see at home.”
Constant said OPS should have answers to questions about next semester by early November.
“Some of those questions, of course, are, ‘Will virtual learning continue into next semester? What kind of in-person model will we be doing? Is it possible to get back to normal, in-person learning?’” Constant said. “All of those questions we are investigating at present.”
All of the variables will be weighed in November, Constant said, and OPS will be sure to get the word out so that students and parents know what to expect next semester.
“I’d like to remind everyone that our school calendar balances the instructional days of the first and second semester. As you recall, we started late this semester, so in order to balance those days we will return from the winter break on January 4, but we will still be, technically, in first semester instructional days,” Constant said. “(Spring semester) classes actually begin Jan. 14, 2021, so we’ll have some time between the 4th and the 14th to finish up this semester.”
Constant commended OPS staff, families and the entire community for making “herculean” efforts in navigating the unknowns and hurdles placed before them this year.
“We continue to implore you for your patience and understanding as we make critical decisions for your future,” he said. “Know these decisions are not made lightly, but must be made with student and staff safety as our ultimate deciding factor.”
—–
