Wayland schools decides on enhanced hybrid model

Wayland Union Schools students, staff and teachers will continue the hybrid model for attendance the rest of this trimester and then transition to more in-person instruction through an “enhanced hybrid” program.

The Wayland Board of Education, at its work session Monday night, agreed to one of two options, good for at least the next month and subject to change afterward or as conditions warrant.

The Covid-19 virus, which has changed the way young people go to school, has caused the adjustments and in the meantime divided parents, teachers, students and staff in the community. Some have noted the increasingly alarming reports of cases in West Michigan and want the kids to be safe while others insist the kids get a quality education in the classrooms.

Supt. Dr. Christina Hinds and School Improvement Committee members last Wednesday were tasked with coming up with more options in the “return to school effort.” Some board members said they weren’t satisfied with Hinds’ recommendation to stay the course with the current hybrid approach.

Wayland students now are divided into two different groups, one attending in classrooms Mondays and Thursdays, the other Tuesdays and Fridays and all students are expected to take instruction on line Wednesdays.

Surveys have shown many local parents don’t believe their kids are getting a decent education with the hybrid system and they want more in-person instruction more days of the week. Some parents say they are scrambling to find their children acceptable day care.

Hinds told the school board, “The question is how can we make the hybrid better?”

She and the committee came up with two options after considering nine.

The schools will transition next month at the beginning of the second trimester to a couple days a week with everybody later moving to four days a week, with Wednesdays continuing to be set aside for all on-line. If the health department concurs and health risks are reduced three weeks later, the move will be to five days a week.

Of course, if it is determined that Coronavirus risks have increased, the district will be at the ready to move to all on-line instruction, if necessary.

The board again heard plenty of commentary from parents and teachers

Jennifer Ward said, “My son has complex health issues… He needs to get out into the community, but he needs to be safe… As a parent and staff member, I worry about exposure (to the virus).”

Laura Foster, who has taught at Wayland for 28 years, said, “I’m very frustrated with discussion to return to five days of school.”

She said a couple of her students have tested positive for the virus.

Parent Cindy Mathis said, “Overall, our numbers are just bad, and we’re talking about going back to face, not about what the health department says.”

Autumn Steketee said her daughter is being quarantined and the local schools have identified five cases of late. She said the situation has worsened because old and flu season is approaching.

“Why is now the time to double the number of kids in the classroom?“ she asked.

Mark Lyons said, “Our children are watching. I hope we have the compassion and common sense to do the right thing.”

Candace Marquard said, “The community is divided. The hybrid is working for us. Why don’t do we want to fix something that’s not broken? We’ve got to use data to drive the instruction.”

But Andy Murphy said, “The kids need to be back in school. They’re not getting the education they deserve.

“The numbers aren’t going to get any better unless you go back to five days a week.”

Trustee Dan Cassini said he’s concerned that too many middle school and high school students are doing poorly educationally under the hybrid system.

Board President Cinnamon Mellema, “It’s our obligation to have these discussions and listen to what people are saying.”

She acknowledged that Wayland right now is regarded as a system that health department protocol “mandates strict mitigating efforts.”

Trustee Gary Wood said, “The feedback (from the community) is like something I’ve never seen before, and I’ve been a member of this board for 12 years. But it hasn’t been fun and it hasn’t been easy.”