Students in Homewood will be returning to their classrooms this school year, but due to the COVID-19 virus they’ll be together only two days each week.

The District 153 school board voted to offer parents two options for student learning this school year: 1) Blended learning – a combination of classroom time supplemented with online learning; or 2) Remote learning.

Board members voted unanimously for these options at the Monday, July 13, meeting. They also rearranged the school calendar, pushing back the start of school to Aug. 24, making the week of Aug. 17 for teacher and staff training sessions on how school will operate this year.

With the plans approved, the administrative team begins the process of setting schedules for students to attend in groups, either on a Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday-Thursday rotation. Friday will have all children work remotely. Parents can request which group their child attends, especially if they want to keep siblings on the same schedule. 

Superintendent Dale Mitchell acknowledged, “It’s a pretty big puzzle to figure out.” The district expects to have a workable plan in place by the end of the month.

School board president Shelly Marks said school will be different, but called the blended proposal “the safest plan” for the district, recognizing the No. 1 concern of parents was health and safety. She called it the plan “for now” because no one can say how the virus may force changes in the weeks or months ahead.

Board members thanked parents for sharing their concerns and desires through numerous surveys and written questions calling them “insightful and helpful.”

Surveys showed 54 percent of parents and 60 percent of staff favored the blended model, and 22 percent of parents and 21 percent of staff favored remote learning.

Board member Ashanti Bethea said having two plans should help parents make tough choices but “do what’s best for your individual student and family.”

Board member Jim Schmidt said, “Together we are going to navigate through this, what I term a quagmire or a nightmare. It’s something that’s just unfathomable, but we’re getting through this.”

Member Gregory Lawrence said the pandemic has thrown aside all the traditional methods and now “no one’s an expert in this.” He is certain that in the long run, District 153 will be applauded for “a great job.”

More than 200 people listened in to the remotely conducted meeting hearing a discussion with the curriculum director on work to improve remote learning; the special education director outlining how student services will be offered; and the technology director presenting how the district can meet the needs of all students giving them devices they can take home.

Marks said she is hoping by splitting into smaller groups of students, teachers will be able to give them more time and attention. Administrators are looking at a schedule that includes the rigorous math, English, social studies and science curriculum and promised to offer students physical education, and upper grades band, choir and orchestra in some way and still meet the mandated wearing of masks at all times and the 6-foot social distancing guideline.

“Our kids are resilient. I know people don’t think so, but they’re resilient. They’re scared and they’re so done with COVID,” said board member Ron Zinnerman.

His concern is for the well-being of teachers and staff. Zinnerman, who’s lost two family members to COVID-19, asked that the district provide or be able to direct staff to help for emotional distress. 

Board member Alex Bosch called for the district to move away from free computer programs and purchase software that will be powering the remote learning system.

He also wanted to make certain teachers would be given options to learn to use this software and have proper technology support.

Technology Director Beth White said the district is in the process of making purchases for both the student and teacher technology software. The district is using federal CARES funds and donations from the District 153 Foundation, CN Railway and Woodlands Church to cover costs.

She also said teachers with greater tech expertise are being designated as team leaders at each grade level to help others work through technology issues. The district’s tech staff also will be available.

Carolyn Deady, president of the teachers union, the Homewood Education Association, applauded the administrative team for including teachers in its decisionmaking from mid-March on, and showing “mutual professional respect.”

The board approved hiring additional custodial staff to assist with cleaning during the school day and to assist the regular night cleaning crew. The board also approved hiring additional substitute teachers.