GLENDALE, Wis. — Two local school districts are getting creative in their plans to bring students back in the fall. In Glendale, the Nicolet School District announced that it wants a blended schedule with half of the school day in-person, the other half virtual. For Menomonee Falls, the superintendent wants students back five days a week for in-person learning.
Corey Golla, the superintendent of the Menomonee Falls School District says students fully returning to school in the fall is what parents want.
“The feedback overwhelmingly has been is they want students in school face-to-face,” said Golla.
However, as Golla explains, the school day will look different.
Elementary students will limit their movements, interacting only with their immediate classroom students and teacher. Middle and high school students will change from an eight-day periods to block schedules.
“Just by transiting to the block schedule we already limit contacts with students. We cut them in half,” said Golla.
Meanwhile, in the Nicolet School District, there was a listening session Tuesday night with parents. The superintendent put out the idea of an A/B schedule. Student who are on the A schedule would go to school Monday, Wednesday and alternating Fridays. The B student would go to school Tuesday, Thursday and alternating Friday. The plan is to have families be on the same A or B schedule together. This was just a proposed schedule for parents to consider.
“The A day, we are dividing students right now, looking at about 10 to 14 students per class, socially distanced,” said Nicolet Schools Superintendent Greg Kabara.
On top of going to school on alternating days, students would only be in class a half day. They would attend in-person school for their first three period. Lunch would be available only as a take home option. Then, after lunch, student would learn virtually with their teachers for four period.
“There is a break in the day where students are in front of the teachers then they would go home and then we would do the screen time,” said Kabara.
Before any plans can be finalized the Nicolet and Menomonee Falls School District plans need to be approved by their school boards. Both boards are meeting later in July.
