PdC School Board approves new learning scenarios
By Ted Pennekamp
On Feb. 3, the Prairie du Chien School Board held a “working” meeting to discuss various scenarios for teaching and learning during this time of COVID. The school district also sent out surveys to parents regarding the learning scenario they would like to have for their students.
During its Feb. 8 regular school board meeting, the board voted 5-2 in favor adopting various scenarios for the different school buildings and grade levels. Cassie Hubanks and Nick Gilberts voted against the recommended scenarios.
On Feb. 9, a letter updating parents about the newly adopted scenarios was sent out.
B.A. Kennedy
Under the B.A. Kennedy scenario, 3K and 4K will remain in the current model through the end of the school year.
Friday, Feb. 12 will be a regular school day for 3K and 4K.
For kindergarten and first grade, B.A. Kennedy will continue in the current model through Thursday, April 1.
Cohorted students received a survey regarding the addition of mid-day busing for the half day programming.
Starting Monday, April 5, cohorted students will be brought back to school five days per week (which means all students will be in the building five days per week).
As of April 5, there will no longer be a cohorted option for B.A. Kennedy kindergarten and first grade only.
A virtual option will remain for those who prefer to learn virtually.
More information will come to families who are not currently five days per week as April 5 approaches.
Friday, Feb. 12 will be a regular school day for kindergarten and first grade.
Social distancing and masking will be maintained in all scenarios.
A full-time custodian will need to be hired at B.A. Kennedy.
Bluff View Elementary
For Bluff View Elementary grades 2-4, Friday, Feb. 12 will be a teacher work day.
Starting Monday, Feb. 15, grades 2-4 will move back to five days face to face.
Every Wednesday (starting Feb. 17) will have a 1 p.m. early release for teachers to work with virtual learners.
A survey will be sent to parents to select their learning choice and will be due by 8 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11.
There will be some changes to classroom assignments to help with social distancing. Mask wearing will still be in place and the staff will do their best to ensure social distancing.
A full-time teacher will need to be hired.
Bluff View Middle School
For grades 5-8, Friday, Feb. 12 will be a no school/teacher work day.
On Monday, Feb. 15, student placement changes will begin. A placement survey was sent out and is due by 8 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11. If the survey isn’t completed for a student, they will remain in their current placement.
Wednesdays will have a 1 p.m. early release. Teachers will work with 100% virtual students. Early releases will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Social distancing will be maintained in the classrooms. An “overflow” area will be utilized for students who exceed classroom capacity limits. Mask wearing and other protocols will be maintained.
Four part-time support staff will be moved to full time. A full time custodian will be hired.
High school
The high school will continue with its current cohort model with social distancing and masking. The social distancing prevents students from having to quarantine as well as minimizing the spread of COVID.
If a student would like to increase or decrease the number of days they attend in person, the parents should contact the high school.
All students who attend face to face are guaranteed to be in their classes two days a week, but if numbers are too large in a specific class, students will log into the class from another location in the building to maintain social distance.
Monday and Tuesday continues to be Cohort A. Thursday and Friday continues to be Cohort B. Wednesdays will continue to be a half day of virtual learning and a half day of intervention for students who are behind or need additional help.
The high school will have classes on Friday, Feb. 12.
If more students come back face to face, one or two more staff members would need to be hired.
Lunch Sign Up
and Delivery
Lunches will continue to be delivered to the bus stops on a daily basis. If anyone needs to add their child’s name to the lunch delivery list or remove their child’s name because their child(ren) will be coming back five days face to face, please contact either Kathy Schneider at 326-3723 or Tasha Forde at 326-3719.
Busing
With more students coming into the buildings, the district cannot guarantee 6 feet of social distancing on the busses any longer. If anyone wishes to change their transportation arrangements, they should contact one of the building offices and they will help the parents through that.
Concerns expressed
Near the beginning of the meeting Monday night, golf coach Rick Peterson and Bluff View English teacher Michelle Kirchman spoke against adopting the new scenarios. Twenty-six people attended the meeting in person.
“I don’t think it’s worth the risk at this point in time to fix what’s not broken,” said Peterson, who noted that he is against five days a week due to safety concerns. Peterson said he would like to stay with the hybrid model.
Kirchman also cited safety concerns with five days per week.
“Not everybody is affected the same. We need a positive learning environment and we need safe working conditions,” she said. Kirchman said the school board should consider what is the safest environment for all, and that the new scenarios disregard science. Kirchman said some people get COVID much more severely than others, and it can become a life and death situation for some.
District Administrator Andy Banasik informed the board that $188,000 more in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds will help pay for the increased costs due to switching to the new scenarios.
Other business
In other business, the school board unanimously approved of having a soccer team co-op with Seneca and River Ridge. It was noted that the Prairie du Chien soccer teams are low in numbers. The Seneca and River Ridge school boards will have to approve of the co-op. All practices and home matches will be held in Prairie du Chien. Seneca and River Ridge do not offer soccer.
In further business, the board approved of retirements for Gary Morovits, David Antoniewicz, Tammy Antoniewicz, Lynn Larson, Dawn McCoy and Julie Bell.
