Kiski Area discusses new option for 4 days of in-person learning

The Kiski Area School District may start allowing students to attend school buildings four days a week for in-person instruction Nov. 2, when the second quarter of the school year begins.

Under the district’s current system, students have the option between 100% online learning and a hybrid model that allows for two days a week in person, and three days online.

The proposed four-day model would not replace the current system, Superintendent Tim Scott said — it would simply give families another option.

The proposed model would have students attend school in person Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. All students would learn remotely on Wednesdays.

The remote time on Wednesdays is meant to keep the district connected to online learning methods, Scott said.

If a school building must close due to infections among staff or students, or if the Westmoreland County’s rising case levels warrant a move backward in Gov. Tom Wolf’s reopening phases, the district would be prepared for a smooth transition.

“School after school, because of the number of covid infections, are having to close for three days, five days,” Scott said. “As long as we have every student in our district connected to online learning at least one day a week, we are able to transition in and out as the circumstances might dictate.”

The day of remote learning also would give teachers additional time for planning, connecting with students and corresponding with parents.

Because all Kiski Area teachers are responsible for both in-person and online students — unlike some districts that outsource to third-party providers for online curricula, or designate one teacher per grade for online instruction — Scott said they require additional planning time each week.

The new hybrid option was proposed at a virtual school board meeting Wednesday night and was followed by a lengthy discussion between board members and administrators. Board members by-and-large supported the move to allow four days of in-person instruction. Throughout the discussion, several expressed worry about the long-term repercussions of staying online.

Board member Deborah Williamson said she was in favor of students returning to in-person instruction for the whole week, expressing concern about the burden remote learning puts on parents and families.

“Our business is to educate our kids, and our taxpayers pay for it,” Williamson said. “And if our taxpayers can’t get to work, and they can’t do what they’re supposed to do, then it’s going to affect the bottom line in our tax revenue, which will affect teachers’ contracts going forward.”

Most board members and administrators agreed five days of in-person instruction would be ideal — but thought the single day online was important to keep students comfortable with the platform, and give teachers more time to call students, answer emails and develop lesson plans for both in-person and online instruction.

“I wouldn’t be in support of any plan that doesn’t take into consideration the extra time that teachers need,” said board member Jessica Johns. “The Wednesday online learning still is a lot of work for the teachers. But it gives a little extra time to meet the challenges of contacting children in the middle of the week — before the end of the week when they’re behind by three or four days.”

Some raised concerns about classrooms being more crowded if more students choose the four-day model. Jason Lohr, assistant to the superintendent, estimated that most elementary classes can expect class sizes in the high teens or low 20s.

Most classrooms districtwide will be able to accommodate around 4.5 feet between each student, he said. Government recommendations call for 6 feet between people.

Cafeterias likely will be rearranged — especially in areas where students don’t wear masks. Some classrooms may need to be reconfigured or classes relocated to allow adequate social distancing.

The four-day model also may pose challenges keeping kids socially distanced on bus rides and at recess.

“That’s the trade-off,” Scott said, “and that’s the balance to get where many in our community want us to go.”

Waiting until Nov. 2 to make the transition will give the district enough time to work out the logistical details, Scott said.

Administrators at the meeting also gave updates to the various aspects of online learning — all giving positive reviews. Administrators from multiple grade levels said they’ve made progress perfecting how students are assessed and evaluated, how they communicate one-on-one with teachers and how proficiency scores in most subjects has not dramatically changed.

“It’s not a pure system,” said Chad Roland, principal of Kiski Area High School. “It’s not a linear system. It’s a grind.”