The Canby School District is expanding its in-person learning opportunities to four days a week for most students starting April 27.
The announcement came from Superintendent Trip Goodall Wednesday afternoon, after he reported last week that the district was exploring the possibility in the wake of reduced distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“When we began our hybrid in-person learning model in early March, we told you we would evaluate our offerings to see if we could expand the amount of time our students are learning in-person,” Goodall said.
“Late last month, the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority released updated guidance on in-person learning operations. That guidance now allows for three feet of physical distance between students, as opposed to six feet. This change means the capacity in our classrooms can expand.”
Barring any required closures due to Covid-19 cases or exposure, K-6 students at all Canby schools and Canby High School students will have the option of receiving four days of in-person learning each week, Tuesday through Friday. Seventh- and eighth-grade students at Ninety-One School in Hubbard will also have this schedule.
Only students at Baker Prairie Middle School will maintain the current hybrid schedule, as the district says Baker Prairie does not have space or additional staff to bring all in-person learning students on campus at the same time.
“Our class sizes are too large to have everyone in school at the same time,” Baker Prairie Principal Jennifer Turner said in a separate communication to parents Wednesday. “Even if we had more space, we do not have additional staff to make a four-day-a-week, in-person learning model work.”
Students will remain in the hybrid model for the remainder of the year, with one cohort attending classes from 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and the other group receiving in-person learning Wednesdays and Fridays.
“I know many families were hopeful that Baker Prairie could start offering more in-person learning opportunities,” Turner said. “While it’s disappointing, we are seeing positive gains in learning and engagement within our hybrid model. We look forward to a strong finish to the school year.”
Students enrolled in comprehensive distance learning or the Canby Online Learning Academy (COLA) will also continue in these programs until the end of the school year.
For K-6 and Ninety-One School students, in-person learning will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
At Canby High School, the schedule will be 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Families should note that the campus will remain closed for lunch; students will have the option of a free lunch at school or bringing their own.
Mondays will continue as at-home learning days with live advisory classes. Staff will use Mondays for planning and collaboration.
If you have specific questions about your student or school schedule, please contact your school directly.
The district’s transportation provider, Student Transportation of America, is creating new routes to accommodate the increased number of students riding the bus each day.
Parents are asked to please remember to screen your student for Covid-19 symptoms before they leave for school each morning. Do not send your student to school if they have symptoms or are sick.
“If a classroom is exposed to one symptomatic student, it is possible the entire class would need to quarantine for 10 days,” Goodall said. “Please do your part to slow the spread of Covid-19 by washing your hands, wearing a mask, and maintaining physical distance from others.
“Thank you for your patience as we’ve worked to increase our in-person learning opportunities. We are pleased we can offer three learning models so each family can choose what is right for their student.”
