Sumner-Bonney Lake School District proposes ‘dialed’ approach to reopening schools
The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District introduced a plan to slowly phase students back into classrooms after joining several school districts in adhering to the health department’s recommendation that classes begin the year as online only.
A “dialed approach” was presented to the school board on Thursday evening in a study session.
The plan will start the school year with remote, digital learning and incrementally allow more staff and students back in the schools.
Superintendent Laurie Dent said there are no metrics the decisions will be based on because the district wants to be flexible.
The plan includes six phases:
Stage 1: All students participate in distance learning provided by district staff, and schools are closed to both students and staff
Stage 2: All students participate in distance learning, and staff will have limited and monitored access to school to deliver online instruction
Stage 3: Students in greatest need of additional support participate on-site with in-person instruction or support two or more days a week. All other students continue in online learning.
Stage 4: Students from Stage 3 as well as all K-3 students will be in schools two days a week. All other students will continue in online learning.
Stage 5: K-3 and 4-12 students will be in the classroom two days a week
Stage 6: All students and staff will return to school for five days a week.
Staff told the board the district is currently at stage 2.
There is a chance the district could return to earlier stages if cases in the area surge. Staff also said there isn’t a timeline for each stage.
“We could be in a stage for only a week before we move to the next stage,” district employee Bill Gaines said.
Parents who choose to continue the distance-learning model can transfer into an online program.
The school board will vote on the dialed approach on Aug. 12.
Digital learning
Staff said they expect digital learning will go better than at the end of last year, due to more technology training for teachers and a regimented schedule for students.
Assistant superintendent of instructional services Kelly Denn said unlike at the end of last year when grades were frozen during continued learning, students will be graded.
“This isn’t going to be spring break for students,” Denn said.
There will be a more constant flow of communication between teachers and parents, where parents receive weekly emails on work that students need to turn in.
Denn presented slides with an hourly breakdown of schedules for elementary and secondary schools. Elementary students will get a daily recess break and 45 minutes of“specialist” time for music, fitness or STEM.
From Tuesday to Friday there will be WIN, or “What I Need,” time for students to review lessons they struggle with or break into small groups for specialized instruction and an office hour to communicate with parents and students.
Secondary students’ six periods will be divided throughout the week while in full-digital learning. On Mondays, students will have pre-recorded lessons and coursework from all of their classes. They will rotate between first, third and fifth periods on Tuesday and Thursday and second, fourth and sixth periods on Wednesday and Friday.
As the district progresses through phases and there is more in-person time, students will transition to six periods a day.
Teachers are expected to complete seven hours of training before school starts on Sept. 8, Denn said.
This story was originally published August 3, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
