Wayland Middle School this coming week will transition back to the hybrid model of instruction because of the Coronavirus.
The middle school had been operating in-person five days per week since Feb. 15, but recent Covid-19 case numbers have forced it to take a step backward. Under the hybrid, half of the 587 students attend in-classroom sessions Mondays and Thursdays, the other half Tuesdays and Fridays and Wednesdays are set aside for catching up and virtual instruction.
Teresa Fulk, assistant superintendent for instruction, said the Allegan County Health Department Friday afternoon recommended the middle school go to all virtual instruction, but the period included would end next week.
Wayland High School went to in-person five days a week Feb. 15, but had to shut down for two weeks afterward and eventually had to return to the hybrid because of Covid numbers spiking.
Members of the Wayland Board of Education met in special session Monday afternoon to discuss the issue and decided to switch to the hybrid.
“I’m very frustrated,” said Board Trustee Toni Ordway. There is no decision (for us) to make.”
Trustee Jason Shane said, “The health department has shown a lack of ability to address this stuff (in a timely manner).”
Janel Hott said, “Maybe we should follow the guidelines from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and not t he health department.”
Ordway and other board members mentioned difficulty lately in working with the health department, which they maintained has been sending them conflicting information. Ordway also said she wanted the health department to be responsible for tracing the virus rather than the schools.
Trustee Becky Hohnke said, “I think moving to the hybrid would keep more kids in school.”
So the middle school students will be off Monday and expected to do virtual learning Tuesday and Wednesday before beginning the hybrid model. The action is supposed to be for the remainder of academic year, but Vice President Pete Zondervan said he would like to revisit the issue at the board’s next meeting Monday evening, May 17.
There was a handful of frustrated residents who spoke at the special session, hastily called for the administration building in the wake of the health department’s recommendations.
One woman acknowledged, “There’s not going to be perfect solution to this, no matter what happens.”
Anthony Gutierrez noted his daughter fell in gym class because of dizziness and promised he will go through the county up through the state to handle the controversy.
Jeff Koon said, “I’m very disappointed that we are here again. Most other districts (nearby) are going full time. This is a board of education, not a board of health.”
Sherry Adams, however, insisted that, “Hybrid is better than quarantine. We’ve had 11 cases in three days (at the middle school).”
Another parent asked how many students have died of Covid, and after being told none, he also was advised the reason may be the precautions.
Six board members showed up to the special meeting, but Supt. Dr. Christina Hinds and Assistant Superintendent Patricia Velie were out of town.
