Newton High School students classes have been 100% on-line so far this year. The Newton School Dept announced a while back that starting on January 27 high school students will move to an optional Hybrid (“HyFlex”) model. Under the new plan, the students will broken up into some number of “cohorts”. On any one day, a single cohort will be attending classes in the physical high school, and the remaining cohorts will be attending the same classes remotely. When the plan was unveiled the NPS published three different proposed schedules – for 2, 3, or 4 cohorts. The more cohorts, the smaller fraction of time each student would spend in the physical school.
Since then the NPS surveyed the families to find out how many students would move to this new Hybrid model. Until they knew that they couldn’t determine how many cohorts would be needed.
The School Department just announced that the upcoming Hybrid plan will have two cohorts, which means that all participating students will have in-person classes two days each week.
Presumably, that also indicates that a substantial number of families have opted not to switch to the hybrid model. That’s probably not such a surprise given the currently escalating infection rates.
We have a high school senior in this house who is chomping at the bit to return to in-person classes and will be in one of those cohorts
Jerry, thanks for getting this posted. I was right behind you! In my personal opinion this is very good news for Newton and the right decision to have made.
Consistent with my post from the weekend, there’s no explanation of how this came about. No backstory. Does anyone actually know? The Superintendent’s email gave no details about how many families chose remote vs. in person. It would be incredibly interesting to know this. It shouldn’t be a secret.
It’s possible that Jerry’s correct, that far more families chose remote learning than might have been expected. However, I’m not so sure. There is another possibility. The Administration and School Committee could have looked at the optics of Newton being the only compatible community on “Hyflex” with more than 2 cohorts and realized that this wouldn’t be sustainable with the public, that there’d be an uproar. It’s entirely possible that the comments on V14, on Facebook, our letters to the School Committee, and pressure from the City Councillors who chose to engage made a difference. If true, this would be great!
Does anyone have the inside scoop? Inquiring minds would love to know….
…and here’s another curiosity. David Fleishman’s announcement about the 2 cohorts was time stamped 5:26PM.
Mayor Fuller’s regular C-19 email announcing the special election was sent at 6:18PM. It contained no mention of the decision about the High School. It’s true that this decision only impacts HS families directly, but with all the build up and controversy I’d think that this would be big news, worthy of the Mayor’s e-mail (and many citizens would not have received the Superintendent e-mail).
Was there any coordination? It sure doesn’t look that way. Hmm…
I like to think that public pressure, including posts on this website, absolutely led to this better outcome.
The next item to focus on is life post teacher vaccines. Teachers are in the high priority group and should have their vaccines by the spring. What’s the plan then for returning to full time, in person school? Knowing the NPS admin and SC, they will want to conduct surveys and focus groups etc. before arriving at an answer. Very well, but that needs to happen early January so that we have a plan. I fear we get to the spring with no plan, and then it all gets punted to the fall.
This is great news!
I was expecting the worst, so this is good news. Is there any learning on Wednesdays? Superintendent Fleishman’s email is unclear.
Tim, you make an excellent point. Newton parents should make it clear to all decision makers that we expect 100% of kids and teachers back in school in the fall. If they have other plans, now is the time to start debating them.
We have no idea how many students are in each cohort. WE were told 85% of families picked Hybrid back in August, and now nothing. Would like more information, as always.
Craig, I would be even more ambitious. Why can’t schools re-open to full-time, in-person instruction the day after every teacher has had the opportunity to receive their 2nd vaccine dose?
But knowing how the SC and NPS have operated thus far, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the goalposts shift (“there must be 0 covid everywhere!”), or have them simply caught unaware, with no real plan. Hence the need for public pressure so the planning gets started Jan 4.
While I was hopeful when I read the email that went out, the realist in me thought back to last August when I was equally hopeful after hearing high schools would be going back in a hybrid model. I will believe the administration has implemented 2 cohort model when my kid is actually there 2 days a week, but I am hoping they stick with this plan. My kid is going back and is looking forward to it.
As a teacher here is the scoop…
Approx 60 teachers in total from both HS have opted out for medical or personal. If they choose medical it had to be approved. If simply opted out then are off the clock so to speak. City will continue to pay their health insurance % if teacher pays their 20-25%.
Small group of teachers who are present on FB don’t want to go back and have caused those who want to go back and city endless headaches. Not worth time to elaborate.
Every classroom in both HS will be in operation. Teachers have been assigned a specific room.
Kids will go to school in cohorts as someone said above. Basically an A and B. When A at school then B is home. Then vice versa. So kids will go to school on average 3 days out of 10. There will be no in person Wed school for either cohort. Teachers must work on Wed.
The Admin at both schools have done an incredible job organizing, communicating, and outlining plans. They deserve high praise. Wish I could name names. High five to them.
Teachers will be required to go back to in person five days a week beginning Jan 4. They will teach from their designated rooms to students. Then on Jan 28 students will return.
Any questions I’ll try to reply ASAP.. In the meantime Merry Christmas to all.
PS – sports are a go. No spectators but both schools will have the usual gamut of winter athletics. Go Lions and Tigers.