Rochester School Board considers plan for secondary students to return to the classroom

The Rochester School Board indicated Tuesday that it may potentially sign off on a plan to send middle and high school students back to the classroom before the end of February.

If approved, the new hybrid learning plan would move secondary schedules back to the traditional eight-period setup, scrapping the block schedule implemented for distance learning. Students would be separated into two groups: one would be in-person on Mondays and Tuesdays, the other on Thursdays and Fridays. 

Wednesdays would become “asynchronous” days, allowing students and teachers time to virtually meet in smaller groups. All students would be at home for instruction then.

Administrators from Rochester’s public secondary schools developed and presented the plan, calling their work “unlike any other plan in the country.” Teachers would have the option of using three different pathways to simultaneously teach students in person and at home.

Cafeterias would be limited to 50 percent capacity, while campus will be closed for all high schoolers. Additionally, passing time would be extended to allow for proper social distancing. Even then, school administrators said it would be a challenge — although not impossible — to keep students properly spaced apart.

“It will be a team effort to make sure our students are reminded of social distancing protocols and to keep them on it — because it’s hard,” said Andrew Kappel, principal of Willow Creek Middle School and one of the plan’s presenters. “Students like to be close. It’s going to be tough. But at least we’re far enough along in the pandemic where they understand what’s going on.”

Superintendent Michael Muñoz said he would approve of the hybrid model if Olmsted County’s weekly case rates per 10,000 residents dips below 50 — an easier threshold to reach than the recommended 30 from the Minnesota Department of Health. Currently, Munoz says Olmsted County’s rate is 54.5.

“We think it’s important to get our secondary students back in the building before the end of the year,” said Muñoz, citing a nine-month layoff for older students.

Tuesday’s discussion sets the Board up for a vote in their next meeting, scheduled for February 2. In that same meeting, the Board will decide whether it wants to proceed with its plan to gradually move elementary schoolers to full in-person learning, after delaying the decision at its January 4 discussion.

With dozens of parents congregated outside the Edison Building, protesting the district’s postponement of full-time in-person learning, board members did not tip their hand on whether or not they would approve such plans in two week’s time. Instead, part of the onus will be left on the students to follow the public health guidelines already in place.

“Our secondary students, far more than our elementary students, have it in their control about whether or not their schools stay open,” said Board Chair Jean Marvin. “If they don’t follow the guidelines, students and teachers are going to get sick in a very short period of time.”

Isaac Jahns is a Rochester native and a 2019 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. He reports on politics, business and music for Med City Beat.