BUCKLAND — The Mohawk Trail Regional School District School Committee has voted unanimously in support of the superintendent’s recommendation to start the year remotely, followed by a phased-in hybrid model.
“Based on the survey results of parents, and the result of staff really sharing their concerns about in-person learning, we needed to take a pause, and we needed to think through how people were feeling about returning to school,” said Superintendent Sheryl Stanton, who assumed the role in July. “It became very clear that we could not ignore that, and we needed to take some time to understand that and to develop a process to work through that.”
The model, as Stanton described in detail at a remote special meeting of the Mohawk Trail School Committee on Aug. 13, involves beginning the school year remotely before transitioning into a hybrid model, tentatively scheduled for the end of November.
Speaking on behalf of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments and the local Board of Health, Richard Warner said the remote learning start is the “safest and most conservative way to ensure health and safety of faculty and students.”
“We are in no way minimizing the challenges involved in remote learning or in the hybrid model,” Warner said. “From an infectious disease standpoint, we think intuitively it makes sense to start with a remote model and move to a hybrid model.”
The Aug. 13 vote followed weeks of reviewing three proposed plans — remote, in-person or a hybrid of the two — with parents, teachers and School Committee members.
“We’ve all been working on this very emotional issue, as you can tell,” Stanton said. “Nothing that we have put forward is what we want, whether it’s good for budget or good for kids. We’re trying to find a way through, and that’s really difficult. It is emotional, and I don’t think we should hide from that.”
A handful of parents at the meeting expressed concerns with the recommended approach to beginning the year remotely. Concerns ranged from juggling work and managing students at the computer, the social-emotional development of students and internet access problems.
Amy Coates, a parent of six children in the district, said she is concerned by what she feels is a lack of planning for the 17 percent of students that do not have internet.
“If you’re going to promote a remote learning plan, you’re only talking about 83 percent,” she said.
Stanton responded to those concerns in her presentation of the plan.
“We are focusing on ensuring all of our students have access,” she said. “We know that’s a critical need for our rural community. … Children will have access — not sitting in their cars, not sitting in a parking lot — but actually seat time with good internet and access.”
The details of that are still being worked out, added School Committee Chair Martha Thurber, but staff are looking at setting up internet hubs and looking for funding that could help get internet into those students’ homes.
A number of parents advocated instead for beginning the year with a hybrid model.
“I can’t imagine a better set of statistics that would meet hybrid model standards,” said parent Andrea Donlon. “I understand there are people who disagree, and that’s always going to be the case with democracy, but that’s my opinion.”
Likewise, parent Sebastian Birke urged the School Committee and administrators to consider a hybrid model.
“When I heard there was a hybrid model, it made a ton of sense to me,” he said. “It allows the school to do what the school is designed to do. … I have high trust that we can make some sort of hybrid model work, and I’m very disappointed a remote model is what is being recommended.”
A primary concern for beginning in a hybrid model, however, was the expected cost superseding what is possible of the district.
“I do think in our district we have to be realistic about cost,” Stanton said. “Hybrid does outstrip our FY21 budget. … If we did come back, I would have serious concerns about how to fund.”
Stanton said the district is still hopeful for yet-to-be determined state and federal funding.
School Committee member Kara Kitchen, who represents Plainfield, said she supports a remote start as the safest way to begin the year, and the most “fiscally responsible” decision until the district can get more state and federal support. However, she also acknowledged concerns from parents about their experience with remote learning in the spring.
“That was crisis teaching,” she said. “Educators and administrators have been deeply involved in professional development this summer.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 263. Twitter: @MaryEByrne