APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Appleton Area School District will begin the 2020-21 school year with an online-only learning model after board approval Wednesday evening.
The virtual model applies to all students in early childhood through 12th grade.
The model was approved by the board upon recommendation from district administrators.
After further review, Greg Hartjest AASD chief financial officer said, “We’re not as confident as we were three weeks ago we could have students in person.”
The district previously proposed in-person classes five days a week for early childhood through 4th grade and a hybrid model for grades five through 12.
The COVID-19 cases have been rising in the Appleton area.
Polly Vanden Boogard, AASD assistant superintendent says…
“when we look at trajectory and burden for not only Appleton but tri-county area, where we draw our students from, you will notice we are in the high category and have remained in the high category for that period of time.”
The administration also sees potential staffing issues due to expected quarantine absences, and a cut in confirmed substitute teachers.
“Given the number of substitutes which is a 45% reduction in number of subs we had last year, to really have put in place safety protocols to keep all safe is a significant challenge for our schools,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Julie King.
The district also re-surveyed 94% of families in the area in the last two weeks.
The district hoped at least 35% would choose a virtual model on their own.
“We do not intend 35% of our families to go virtual,” said Hartjest, “so this is word of mouth from every family in the district.”
Based off those updated numbers, Appleton’s says the district’s already overcrowded buildings could not allow for safe social distancing.
Superintendent Judy Baseman says they are preparing for when students can return.
“We’re committed to making sure to work on these procedures so we are ready when our students come back when it’s ready.”
District leaders also reassured the board that virtual learning will look different than it did in Spring.
“The proposed enhanced virtual model will be substantially different in the content and the how,” said Assistant Superintendent Steve Harrison, “instruction will be different as what was based on emergency response and this is based on planning.”
The initial plan was to have students up to 4th grade in class everyday. All other students would have been in the classroom for a combination of virtual and in-person learning.
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