Abby K-12 switches to 5-day week
By Kevin O’Brien
In January, the Abbotosford Board of Education was faced with the decision of whether to remain at four days of inperson instruction, or switch to five.
Nearby school districts like Colby and Greenwood were making the switch, but with COVID-19 cases on the rise in Wisconsin after the holidays, and after listening to comments from teachers and students, the board chose to remain at four days, with one virtual day.
One month later, and the board of education has reversed course, approving a motion on Monday that will move the district to five days a week of in-person instruction beginning on Monday, March 1.
Prior to the motion, the issue was discussed at length, and once again, teachers from the district turned out to voice their concerns about five days a week of in-person instruction.
Krista Keech, a parent of a student as well as a middle school teacher, implored the board to remain at four days, and encouraged the school remain this way through the duration of the 2020-21 academic school year.
“I’m looking at COVID-19, and it’s not gone away. Our numbers are down in this district, but it’s still here,” Keech said to the board. “Students and staff are really used to this schedule right now. Yes, kids are resilient, and staff are resilient, and we can make the change. But I feel like it would more sense to make the change starting next school year then to change it halfway through the third quarter.”
Keech informed the board that having virtual Wednesdays allows teachers and staff to better plan their lessons and help students get caught up with work. She said it also provides more one-onone time between staff and English Language Learner students.
“On Wednesdays, teachers are using this time to collaborate with colleagues, analyze data, plan lessons, work on educator effectiveness, communicate with parents and students and create digital material. I went from last spring being completely a paper teacher to almost completely digital now. That took a lot of hours and lot of planning, and it’s constant creating, so those Wednesdays, that’s what we are doing — creating.”
Keech also told the board that she and other staff have no issues coming in earlier to get enough hours in.
“I know that it was brought up at the last board meeting that we are not a waiver school, but other schools are in the same boat we are,” she said. “I know some are concerned that maybe we aren’t getting enough hours in . . . I don’t think too many teachers would balk at the idea of 7 a.m. Wednesday mornings for the remainder of the school year if teachers need to get their hours in.”
When asked for feedback regarding a move to five days a week, elementary school principal Gary Gunderson reiterated what he had told the board during its January meeting — that attempting to maintain adequate social distancing would be nearly impossible.
Gunderson said that with a return to five days a week of in-person instruction more grades would be co-mingling during recess, lunch and physical education classes, thus increasing the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
High school principal Ryan Bargender said that, with block scheduling, a return to five days a week would have little impact on endangering current social distance measures.
After hearing from the teachers and staff, board member Kraig Schindler was in favor of keeping the district at four days, and then revisiting the issue at the board’s March meeting.
But a motion to do so failed to garner enough support from the board, with only Schindler and board member Jim Hirsch in favor of maintaining four days.
Superintendent Sherry Baker shared results from an online survey the district conducted to understand where students, staff and the public stand on the matter of five-day in-person instruction. Based on the survey results, Baker said nearly 60 percent of parents were in favor of a return to five-day-a-week in-person instruction, versus just 32 percent of teachers and staff in favor. Among students enrolled in grades 4-12, over 70 percent were in favor of staying at four days with a virtual day of class.
Baker also revealed Monday that the Abbotsford School District is one of the first schools in line for the COVID-19 vaccine. Baker said that a clinic would be held at the south gym to administer the first shot of the vaccine on March 3.
However, Baker said that there likely would not be enough shots for every staff member, and the district will likely have to prioritize doses based on risks and pre-exisiting conditions.
Board president Eric Reis was in favor of the move to five days a week, citing issues that he has seen with his own children and others regarding virtual learning.
Reis said he fears that the longer the district remains at four days, the more chances there are for students to fall behind, and that it might take months or even years before they catch up again.
“Howmanykidsarehomealoneorjust with siblings, and are just not engaging? I worry about them falling behind, and how long will it take to get them back on track?” Reis asked. “Education is the key to the future, and I feel that school is the safest place for kids, and that kids need to be back in school five days a week.”
Reis put forth a motion to move the district back to five days a week, and with just Schindler and Hirsch voting against it, the motion carried.
The district will continue to allow those families who have students in virtual- only instruction to continue to do so. At present, the elementary school has 18 students currently going completely virtual. The high school has just eight students.
Other business
_ The board approved a motion to hire Kallie Falteisek as a track coach, Alex Larson as a junior varsity baseball coach, Noah Robida as a volunteer baseball coach and William Colby as a volunteer wrestling coach.
_ The board approved the following teacher resignations at the end of the 2020-21 academic calendar: Barb Salisbury, Michael Thompson and Lori Eisch.
_ Shanna Hackel also informed the board that February’s meeting would be her last as a member of the board of education.
_ The board continues to wait for federal approval of a $2.18 million FEMA grant. Baker said approval should be coming “any day now” and that the district had raised the necessary $1.2 million dollars needed to complete construction of storm shelter/multi-purpose dome.
_ Maintenance supervisor Mason Rachu said he continues to work on the pool repair project. Rachu said he is hoping to see construction begin before the school year is out. Repairs will take longer in order to get the 46-year-old structure up to code, he said.
_ The district will be conducting fund raisers to pay for the FEMA storm shelter and pool repairs. The district will be publish more information for those interested in donating to either project.
