The Salem Grade School Board has unanimously approved having all students return to in-class instruction four days a week.
Superintendent Dr. Leslie Foppe says the move will take place when the second quarter begins on Monday, October 26th. Students will have no classes on Thursday and Friday, October 22nd and 23rd to allow teachers and staff to prepare for the change.
Foppe feels the change is possible because of the excellent job of students wearing their masks and the extensive cleaning routine at Hawthorn and Franklin Park.
“We feel that it is time to bring kids in 4 days a week. We feel strongly that it will remain where we have a shortened day since kids are in masks all day, but also we have remote learners so teachers need time to be able to meet the needs of our full remote learners. We still want Wednesday to be a full remote learning day so it gives kids at least one day where they don’t have to come in, they can work from home and don’t have to wear a mask.”
Foppe and board members say they have only received positive comments since she announced the plan.
“We will just monitor every situation and take all the precautions we need to take to keep everyone as safe as possible. But our kids need to be back in school. It’s a hardship on our families, teachers, and children. We feel confident in bringing them back safely.”
Foppe says plans are still being finalized to safely offer breakfast and lunch that will be available free of charge through December as part of a federal program. Foppe and the building principals and assistant principals all commended the teachers and staff for going above and beyond to make remote learning work. School Board President John Gaston also commended the businesses in the community for stepping up to assist the district.
The board was also told the number on remote learning will come down for the second semester, possibly tied to students going back to in-school learning four days a week. The number of remote learners at Hawthorn will be down from 63 to 48 and at Franklin Park from 74 to 39. An effort is being made to get students back into the classroom who are struggling with remote learning.
The board approved e-learning days on what would have been snow days in the past. Those days will not have to be made up. There was no opposition at a public hearing prior to the meeting.
