The Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools System board met in a workshop Thursday afternoon to consider different scenarios for reopening the schools, again.
Citing new data from the Harvard Global Health Institute, and also noting President Joe Biden’s efforts to reopen schools within his first 100 days in office, the board heard several reports of how to safely return students to the classroom. The meeting was discussion only and no actions were taken.
In its initial report last July, Ashish K. Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, said, “If you are in a red zone, there is simply no way to safely open schools now. Orange zones will struggle as well. If you open schools in these areas, the chances are that those will likely close quickly when teachers, staff, and possibly students start getting sick in large numbers. Getting to green will make opening schools much safer.”
More:Savannah-Chatham students to remain in virtual learning next week
Based on that report and the local data, SCCPSS officials eventually decided to use the local metrics as the basis for opening or closing schools.
However, in an updated report dated Dec. 18, 2020, Jha said, “Where schools opened up again with mitigation measures in place, we saw no evidence that schools drive significant community spread. With the right controls in place, schools can even maintain lower infection rates than the community.”
The SCCPSS board heard about various options for returning students to the classroom. None of the proposals include a return to a full-time, five-day-a-week schedule for all students, yet. These options were only discussed and not voted upon. The board will take action during its Feb. 3 meeting. Options include:
• Combining cohorts "A" and "B" to attend school five days a week based upon interest level and social distancing guidelines. Buildings would be limited to no more than 60% capacity. Wait lists will be implemented; and students with special needs and ESOL students will receive priority to ensure they receive their services. The report noted that there could be overtime costs associated with transportation and custodial staff.
Earlier:Red, barely red, and orange: Savannah-Chatham schools to finish fall term in hybrid mode
• Pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, all least independent learners, ESOL students attend four days per week spread out across all school buildings; grades 6-12 will continue learning virtually. Students will transition back to their home schools, and grades 6-12 will attend in-person when Community Transition Index reaches an "acceptable level." Wednesdays continue as an "independent learning" day.
• Three-day/two-day rotation with a learning partner. Cohort A attends in-person Monday through Wednesday first two weeks; then Monday and Tuesday in weeks three and four. Cohort B attends in person Thursday andFridaythe first two weeks each month; and also Wednesday through Friday the third and fourth weeks of the month. Students will learn virtually when not in the classroom. Students in grades 4-12 collaborate with a same-grade "learning partner" in the opposite cohort. Wednesday is not an "independent learning" day.
• Students return to school five days a week with Cohort A attending all five days the first two weeks of the month; and Cohort B attending all five days the third and fourth weeks of the month.
• Students would attend half-days in person (a.m.or p.m.schedules) and virtual half day.
The district reiterated that students still have the option to remain in all-virtual learning if they chose. The full presentation is under the "Board Docs" tab on the school district website at sccpss.com
But the discussion continued about the Harvard research and recommendations.
"We need to look at what the children need. We're not here for adult problems," said Michael Johnson, District 7 board member. "There's always new information coming out daily. We need to do something that is in the best interests of the students that we serve."
Noting the updated information from the Harvard study in July to December, Denise Grabowski, District 1 board member, said, "That guidance has evolved tremendously. We incorporated the science into our decision-making process."
She quoted the updated guidance which recommends that schools can reopen despite rising numbers in the metrics that the district used in the past to make that decision. The updated study recommends that schools can reopen safely if they implement — and adhere to — strict infection-control protocols.
Barbara Augsdorfer is the education reporter for the Savannah Morning News. Reach her at BAugsdorfer@gannett.com or on Twitter @Babs7983.
