HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Public Schools Board of Education approved a later resumption of classes for students after the Christmas-New Year’s recess. Staff, as well, will get a slightly longer break. The changes are designed to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on students and staff.
Under the proposal adopted Monday, students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade will return to class in the hybrid model on Jan. 11 instead of Jan. 4. Hutchinson High School students will return to class remotely on Jan. 11 for two weeks before returning to the hybrid model on Jan. 25. The Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy will also return on Jan. 11 in the hybrid mode.
Under the hybrid model, students with names starting with A through L attend in-person classes on Mondays and Wednesdays while students with names starting with M through Z attend in-person classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All students in the hybrid model learn remotely on Fridays.
Licensed staff, meanwhile, will get Jan. 4 and Jan. 5 off with the remainder of the week spent in workdays and professional development. Classified staff will have a work schedule that is first week back as determined by their supervisors.
The approval came after input from a variety of sources, including a new Superintendent’s Committee. Superintendent Mike Folks has a new parent and staff community group to provide input on COVID-19 related issues as well as possible future activities in the district. Those additional issues may include the district’s budget and school configuration. The board also discussed a contract Monday with RSP & Associates to help the district with long-term planning. RSP has previously worked with the district for internal boundaries of its elementary schools.
Included in the project will be an enrollment analysis, current elementary boundary analysis and facilities analysis. The Superintendent’s Committee will be one of the resources RSP will use for community input during the research. The board tabled the proposal to get more information from the company.