Students and parents in Wabash District #348 will have options when the new school year begins next month. At their monthly meeting tonight, the school board approved a back to school plan board member Janice Alka described as a “soft opening”. Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer laid out three options for the new school year.
The first option was a full return to school five days a week while the second possibility was a blended option with students attending two days a week with remote learning the other three days; and the third option was full remote learning.
After laying out the parameters of each idea, Bleyer suggested starting with a blended plan following by students returning to school five days a week effective August 24th….
Bleyer said since this situation is something no one has ever faced, the first two weeks is crucial to getting the full return to school right….
If a parent chooses not to send their student to school, they will have the option of remote learning..
Bleyer listed a variety of health and safety guidelines that everyone in the school district will have to adhere. Among them is that students riding the bus will have their temperatures checked before getting on the bus every day. If the student has a temp of 100.4 or above, they won’t be allowed on the bus and will be sent home. Because of that, any student under 14 will have to be accompanied by a parent or guardian in case they aren’t allowed on the bus. Students not riding the bus and all school personnel will also have to undergo temperature screenings every day before being allowed into school.
Bleyer stressed that what was approved unanimously tonight by the school board may still see more changes depending on new guidance from the state department of public health and state board of education.
A handful of parents attended the meeting to hear the board’s plan.
Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bleyer lays out the back to school options to the school board.