It’s back to school Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, Aug. 24, 25 and 27, for Wayland, Martin and Hopkins, respectively.
All three districts now have submitted their school reopening plans to the Allegan Area Education Services Agency in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis. Hopkins and Wayland will use a hybrid model for two different groups attending two days per week and going to on-line instruction only on Wednesdays. In-person sessions will be Mondays and Thursdays for one group and Tuesdays and Fridays for the other.
However, Martin will go five ways a week, as outlined by Superintendent Brooke Ballee-Stone in a video posted on Facebook and on the school district’s web site. Those who want on-line only instruction will be permitted to sign up with the Allegan County Virtual Academy, but the cost is $4,500 for a one-year commitment.
Hopkins Superintendent Gary Wood told the Board of Education Monday night that the goal was to “bring our students and staff back to school in the safest way possible.”
The actions were taken at the same time Plainwell announced it is starting school all on line in September, at least until October, but Jenison and Grandville is going face to face.
Board Trustee Jessica Johnston said, “This was the best way for us not to have to shut down our school district.”
But Secretary Karen Ryan demonstrated resignation in saying, “A lot of this was kind of decided for us.”
Wood insisted that the elementary schools will have no more than 15 students in each classroom, school buses will not be crowded and protocols for wearing masks, distancing and sanitizer use will be observed,
The Hopkins board vote was unanimous, but in Wayland it was 5-2, with Pete Zondervan and Dan Cassini dissenting.
Cassini said, “I don’t see the buy-in from the teachers that I expected. I don’t think the hybrid model fits in well.”
Zondervan maintained the younger children will be “more prone to spreading the virus,” especially if they’re not required to wear masks. “I struggle with how we’re not going to be able to provide enough protection for our teachers.”
Gary Wood noted the concerns of the two men, but said he believed the hybrid model is a good compromise, as he at first favored five days a week, just like Martin.
Board President Cinnamon Mellema said the two days per week would allow students “a chance to build a rapport with their teachers.”
Superintendent Dr. Christina Hinds tried to calm fears of parents who didn’t want to have their students saddled with a full year commitment with the Virtual Academy, promising those who want to come to Wayland and do the in-person classes could have arrangements made.
Hinds, who has hit the ground running with the controversy since coming on board July 1, acknowledged, “Most of my time has been spent with this return to school safely plan.”
Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Pat Velie said the pre-school program will be delayed until sometime in November because of COVID-19.
Zondervan also proposed the start of school be delayed from Aug. 24 until Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day.
Wood remarked that reopening school under the cloud of the Coronavirus was “the most serious threat we’ve ever had to deal with as board members.”
Mellema concluded the comments by praising her colleagues “for being able to discuss this intelligently and politely.”
