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Date: 12/9/2020
HAMPDEN/WILBRAHAM – The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District (HWRSD) is continuing its plan to transition elementary school grades to a synchronous learning format, by introducing the model to third graders. On Dec. 3, Principal Monique Dangleis of Stony Hill School explained that the learning model would be very similar to the one recently incorporated at the fourth and fifth grade levels.
In the synchronous learning model, teachers instruct students in the classroom at the same time as those participating remotely. Dangleis said that the goals of the change were to provide consistent teaching, enhance motivation and accountability, provide teacher feedback and increase the connection between teachers and students, as well as between students in separate cohorts.
The students in-school and those at home will both have a full-day schedule of live instruction. The in-person cohort will have live related arts blocks, while those at school will have an exploration block. When the cohorts switch, they will receive the other block.
On Dec. 2, third grade teachers received a two-hour training on synchronous teaching. The format will utilize model classrooms to pilot the changes with a gradual increase scheduled to begin Dec. 7 and teachers observing the classes starting Dec. 10. By Dec. 21, the model classrooms should be fully transitioned to synchronous learning. Between Jan 4 and Jan. 19, 2021, all classrooms will gradually switch to the synchronous model. At that point, the two third grade remote teachers will transition to running small groups for cohort D.
School Committee Member Patrick Kiernan objected to the schedule of the third grade roll-out. He noted that parents are leaving public schools because they want more in-person learning. “The faster we go, the better,” he told Dangleis.
Likewise, School Committee Chair Sherrill Caruana pushed for a shorter timeline. Dangleis said she is hoping for a quicker implementation but is concerned about students keeping up. She said that third-graders are at a different place developmentally than the fourth and fifth graders and it may be harder to adjust.
She also asserted that a change to synchronous learning for second-graders will likely not work because they are not developmentally ready.
“You’ve got to move slow to move fast,” Superintendent Al Ganem said, emphasizing the district’s desire to get the change right.
School Committee member Sean Kennedy said that Wednesdays are not “as robust as students need.” He commented that his son was done with his assigned schoolwork by 10:45 a.m., despite Wednesdays being designed as full days of school.
Ganem said Wednesdays were essential for teacher collaboration but admitted that the structure needed improvement.
“I don’t want to get great at hybrid,” Ganem said, adding that the goal is to get students back in school full-time. Kennedy objected, saying that he did think they needed to get great at hybrid in the sense that teachers will have to more seamlessly incorporate technology into their instruction.
Dangleis defended teachers, noting that the problems are often due to technology failure.
The district planned to send out Google survey to families to determine their satisfaction with their students’ cohort placement. Caruana pointed out that the last survey on cohorts left some parents confused, not realizing that their answers would be used to place their child in a cohort. Instead, she suggested making a form available on hwrsd.org for those who want to change cohorts. Ganem acknowledged Caruana’s concerns but did not say whether the survey format would be changed. Kiernan noted that the school committee needs to keep out of the “transactional” operations of the district.
Director of Student Services Gina Roy gave an update of the transitional program for 18- to 22-year-olds at Thornton W. Burgess School. She explained that there are seven students in one class and five students in another class for those with more intensive needs.
Recently, the students have worked on a food drive for Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry in Chicopee, listened to guest speakers and competed in a mock version of the show “Chopped,” during which the students worked in teams to make meals with a list of ingredients.
Roy also announced that four of the program’s students have been accepted to Holyoke Community College for the next semester of online classes.
Ganem told the committee that classes would be resuming their normal hybrid schedule, with in-person classes on Dec. 7 for cohorts A and C and on Dec. 10 for cohort B. Classes had been fully remote during the week after Thanksgiving break, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4. This was done to limit the possibility of coronavirus spread while identifying individual cases in the district. Ganem commended the staff and faculty on the smooth transition to fully remote learning.
The decision to return to in-person learning was reached on Dec. 2, after a review of the data and consultation with public health officials, Ganem said.
Health Director Teri Brand addressed the community, asking for the support of families during the transition back to in-person learning. She told parents and caregivers to keep their children home if they are ill, even if the symptoms are mild. “If there’s any doubt, consult with your doctor, get that negative test and inform your school nurse,” Brand instructed. She added that students should receive a negative test before returning to school if they had traveled outside of the state during the Thanksgiving break.
Brand was asked about the updated CDC guidelines that the quarantine period can end after 10 days if there have been no symptoms, or after seven days if there is a negative test and there haven’t been any symptoms. Brand said that the district is following the Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines, which were updated on Nov. 18 to impose a quarantine period of 10 days provided there is a negative test on the eighth, ninth or tenth day.
The superintendent took some time to defend the requirement for faculty and staff to work in the buildings, rather than remotely when the schools are closed to students. Opinions have been shared with him that the decision is due to a lack of trust that people will do work when they are at home.
“Please know it has nothing to do with trust,” Ganem said of the requirement. He explained that the equipment necessary for teachers to instruct remotely is located in the schools, as is technical support staff, in case of difficulties using the platforms and programs. Another in-building support system is the professional and moral support of other teachers and staff. He stressed that it is safe to physically be in the buildings.
The other factor that Ganem emphasized was that in other districts where faculty have worked remotely, there have been furloughs because fewer personnel are needed when buildings are not open. “I don’t want to lose the staff we have.”