WUHS to expand in-person instruction soon
The main entrance of Woodstock Union High School & Middle School in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
When they return from April break, Woodstock Union High School students will return to more in-person learning.
The administration is implementing four days of in-person instruction at WUHS, effective April 19. This change is made possible by the state’s updated guidance that calls for three-foot physical distancing in school, rather than the previous rule of six-foot distancing, according to WUHSMS Principal Garon Smail. In changing that rule, Smail said, state education officials cited research from other states and Europe, saying there was no significant difference between the impact of the two distances in schools during the pandemic.
The in-person instruction will be on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday will remain a day when most students are off-campus, and the morning remote class schedule on that day will be replaced with teacher office hours. The remote clubs and activities will continue on Wednesday afternoon, as well as driver’s education.
The middle school has already switched to the four-day in-person format — the 7th grade on Feb. 1, and the 8th grade on March 18. High school students had still been operating under a hybrid learning model, a blend of in-person and remote instruction.
When this change occurs for the high school, students will follow their established in-person schedules, masks will still be required, and no congregating will be allowed in the hallways, which is the case now. Strict cleaning protocols remain throughout the day.
“I believe we have the systems and routines in place to take on this capacity,” Smail said, in making this announcement at a recent school district board meeting.
In a Friday interview, Smail said he’s heard from parents who are happy with making this change at WUHS, and a few were concerned. He noted that this recent announcement was made the same week as the state’s new phased reopening plan, which aims to lift all state pandemic restrictions by July 4.
“The governor releasing his return-to-normal plan on the heels of this, puts this (announcement) in the context of the state moving in this direction, and it feels right that way,” Smail said.
He also noted that the increase in in-person learning does not mean a doubling of the student workload. He echoed the sentiment of a teacher, who recently told him, “We’re doubling the amount of connection.”
“That’s kind of the focus,” Smail said.
Smail pointed out that the in-person format provides more access to teachers and will add more student interactions with other students, a clear improvement, he added, over the remote days that used to take up some of the week.
“It’s just not really how we operate as people, to be that isolated,” Smail said.
He said the change will also allow teachers to plan for just one type of class, rather than having to make plans for remote and in-person instruction.
At the recent school district board meeting, in which this change was announced, one question was raised about what accommodation could be made for a family uncomfortable sending their student to four days of in-person instruction.
“We do work with individual cases the best we can, to be supportive of people,” Smail said.
Another question concerned whether it was wise to move back to a heavier in-person schedule this close to the end of the school year, which might not work for some students.
Superintendent Sherry Sousa noted research showing that “re-establishing what is normal” is key for students’ mental health.
This change is part of making sure WUHSMS is ready for five days a week by August, Smail added.
Additionally, the school has done $320,000 worth of HVAC work to improve air flow. Outside spaces will be available to use for classes and lunch.
— Gareth Henderson
