The new year has also commenced a new way of learning for many local families.
Most attending and working in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. returned to classrooms this week, as the school system enacted its hybrid model of learning for the first time on Tuesday.
Elementary school students are attending in-person classes five days a week, but secondary students are running on a staggered schedule to help limit the number of persons moving around the buildings each day.
Using the Indiana State Department of Health’s color-coded mapping system, the hybrid model has students inside buildings twice per week and on eLearning for the other three days.
The current plan suggests utilizing hybrid learning for secondary schools if there is moderate to high community spread (orange) and all schools if there is high community spread (red).
Secondary students with last names A-K are attending in person on Mondays and Tuesdays while surnames L-Z are coming in on Thursdays and Fridays.
The hybrid model, which was approved by the school board in October, will run through at least Jan. 15, according to BCSC superintendent Jim Roberts.
It makes sense to use the hybrid model right now.
Outside of hospitalizations staying high, the indicators provided by the local COVID-19 Community Task Force have largely declined over the past few weeks.
At the same time, the schools are staying weary of a potential holiday spike in cases by not sending all students back at once. Many health experts, including those at Columbus Regional Hospital, worry a surge could soon happen given the number of gatherings that have taken place over the past two weeks.
The myriad of benefits to holding in-person classes can’t be denied. If the schools can offer in-person learning, even if it’s just a couple days per week, it could make a big difference for many local youth.
Additionally, virtual options are still available for all students and families that are apprehensive to go back.
BCSC has used data all along to help determine whether or not individuals should be in the schools. That approach needs to continue moving forward, as officials try to navigate the second half of the school year.
