GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Green Bay School Board voted 5-2 to approve four days of in-person learning for middle and high school students.
In a special board meeting last night the board approved to return to four days in-person beginning April 12. Wednesday will remain a full virtual learning day.
“April 12th is a marking period for us so that makes for, if there’s going to be a transition, a smoother on boarding and off ramping for students who select to change at that point in time,” said Superintendent Stephen Murley.
Families can choose to remain or transition to fully virtual learning based off this decision.
If Brown County burden rate reaches 400, this will trigger a special board meeting for the board to discuss transition to an alternative instruction model.
Until then, Green Bay’s administration will look into addressing the challenges of learning in-person 4 days a week raised by the administration.
Murley sent a letter of advantages and disadvantages of moving students to four days in-person for the board to consider. The list was created based off feedback from school administrators.
Some of the advantages listed include: social and emotional well-being of students, and potential for better staffing due to vaccinations, and teams have been planning for more kids in the building.
A few of the disadvantages listed are: social distancing concerns (specifically for East, Edison and Preble), difficulty with contact tracing, stress levels of teachers and staff, and need for more science and tech ed. positions to be filled.
“That’s where we’re struggling to make sure we can find content area specialists to substitute teach in those areas to make sure they get the support they need,” said Superintendent Stephen Murley.
However, the administration hopes teachers being vaccinated will alleviate staffing concerns.
Another concern is social distancing.
“The one thing I want to make sure you all understand is regardless of 3 foot or 6 foot distance required by CDC, we will not be able to accomplish that if we have all our students back,” said Murley.
For a full look at the list, click here.
Overall, Murley says three weeks until April 12 will be enough time to brainstorm solutions to some of the challenges.
“I know speaking to them directly they are prepared for when students return and they understand the direction the board has been leaning.”
As for the possibility of 5 days of in-person learning, that’s the administration’s goal for the next school year.
Green Bay’s middle and high school students will continue learning a hybrid model until April 11.
The board began discussion of moving to four days in-person the same week they returned to the classroom in a hybrid model.
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