Schools see influx of in-class students

The change of the elementary trimester brought many changes to parents’ choices to opt their children out of school or opt the students back into in-person learning. 

“I have just talked to parents and just asked them what are your family’s needs?” said Lincoln-McKinley Primary School Principal Holly Bitz. “We kind of work out a plan. Sometimes they have pre-existing health concerns or they’re uncertain of the health effects due to the ongoing pandemic or they’re just more comfortable with their child in virtual learning.

“Other times they say, ‘You know we thought that this was a great idea in the beginning, but it’s been difficult for us to be able to complete assignments or utilize technology, we’re just really busy as a family. Remote learning is difficult, and we would like for the children to return to the face-to-face instruction.’  I just go on a case-by-case basis and determine what is best for their family,” she continued.

Bitz said the bulk of the changes were at the change of trimesters, but there are still students who are switching from remote learning to in-person instruction and vice versa. 

When a student opts for in-person learning, Bitz said, she coordinates with the other school principals to try to place siblings on the same group days, however, she only handles Lincoln McKinley Primary School’s students. 

Bitz said the school has seen an influx of students opt back to in-person learning this trimester. 

“It’s nice to see those students and have those connections and be face-to-face. It’s a lot easier to use (hand-held items to reinforce lessons) with them and have that active participation,” said Bitz. “Our remote teachers are absolutely wonderful, and they sent home those same materials so students could be using them to learn but for me it’s nice to see them in the building and get to know them a little bit better.”

In Lincoln-McKinley, classrooms the students are still able to social distance and not wear masks while seated. A couple of the classrooms are at the point where if one more student was added, it would not be possible to social distance anymore and everyone would wear masks during the school day except when eating, said Bitz.

“If we were to return all students to four days a week, we would be masked up the whole day other than when they were eating,” she said. 

Bitz said she has not received any requests or opt out forms in the anticipation of the district going back to school with more in-person learning in January.