Barbara Augsdorfer|Savannah Morning News
The Savannah-Chatham County school board voted at its regular meeting on Wednesday to implement a three-day/two-day amended hybrid model to return students to the classroom during this current semester. The resolution passed 7-2-0 with the "no" votes coming from Tonia Howard-Hall, District 8 representative, and David Bringman, District 6 representative.
No date was determined for returning the students to the classroom. Students will remain in virtual learning for now.
In her opposition to the proposal, Howard-Hall said, "I am not able to support it in its current form [because] it removes the metric of when to close and when to reopen a school." She proposed an amendment to the resolution reinstating that clarity and approved the amendment, which was also approved by the board, but Howard-Hall remained a "no" vote.
Two board members offered lukewarm support for the resolution. "I am supporting this resolution but Im not in love with it," said Dionne Hoskins-Brown, District 2 representative. "Weve heard from Dr. Davis. The data is incomplete."
"I would like to see a five-day-a-week return to school with a return to the former bell schedule. Five-day-a-week learning is the best, but with the proper mitigation strategies, it can mitigate the spread," offered Michael Johnson, District 7 board member. "I will continue to be an advocate for five days a week. This resolution is the best compromise."
The date to be determined is to be "operationally feasible,"meaning that Superintendent Ann Levett will set a start date that works with teachers, support staff, nutrition workers, bus drivers, and parents. She said that when a date is determined, based on the latest Centers for Disease Prevention and Control guidelines, there will be at least a two-week window for parents and staff to plan for the change.
The proposed 3/2 hybrid schedule can be seen on the district website at sccpss.com.
Shawn Kachmar, District 4 representative, expressed cautious optimism about the proposal. "This is not opening the school doors wide open; [the] best success will be contingent on strict mitigation policies." The resolution also gives individual schools flexibility to increase school days up to five days a week if families want it, space allows, and is aligned with other district departments such as transportation and nutrition.
The board also passed a resolution urging Gov. Brian Kemp to move teachers and school personnel to the "front of the line" for the COVID vaccine. While the district hopes that all or most personnel who are now eligible will get the vaccine, waiting for the next phase will not determine the return to the classroom.
"I know there is some acute need for young people to be in the buildings," Levett said. "If I wait on the vaccine, Im not hopeful that it will be in place by May 15 [the last day of school]."
More: Dr. Lawton Davis updates Savannah-Chatham school board on returning students to the classroom
Additionally, Levett would like to see all students returned to in-person learning the first day of school in the 2021-22 school year.Many moving parts must be aligned in near perfection within the next six months in order for that to happen.
Board President Joe Buck reiterated the resolution's call for a "robust summer school" program leading into the next school year. "I would love to have five days a week [now], but I know thats not going to happen . We should make summer school as attractive as possible with as many kids as possible that you can put in a building safely."
More: To go back to school safely and quickly, move teachers to front of COVID-19 vaccination line
Barbara Augsdorfer is the education reporter for the Savannah Morning News. Reach her at BAugsdorfer@gannett.com or on Twitter @Babs7983.
