by Bill Knowles
TRINIDAD — The Trinidad School District #1 school board approved a reopening plan with a 5-0 vote during a special meeting on January 11. The plans will be implemented in two phases.
The action calls for special needs and failing students to return to classes January 25, during the first phase. The second phase calls for K through 12 students to return the following week on February 1. The February 1 return for the general student body will be a hybrid system.
The extended date will allow more time for staff to be vaccinated.
During the January 27th regular school board meeting an update will be given on the numbers of students that have attended the school in person since January 25. The board will also look at and evaluate implementing the hybrid system beginning February 8.
On December 30th, Governor Jared Polis announced that due to a decrease in the number of cases state wide, all counties in red will move to orange. According to the dial, orange indicates P-12 schools should be “in-person suggested, hybrid, or remote as appropriate”.
The hybrid plans are located on the district website at http://tsd1.org. Once at the home page, go to the tool bar at the top of the page and click “Our Schools”. The plans are listed per school on the left side of the blue field. The plans were reviewed by Las Animas and Huerfano Counties District Health Department in October 2020. With new information, they could change prior to February 8, 2021.
Hybrid plans for three schools
Fisher’s Peak Elementary will host student flexible cohorts and will be split by the teachers.
Group A will attend classes on Mondays and Tuesdays. This cohort is made up of about 175 students and 43 staff members.
Group B will attend classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This cohort is the same numerically as the first cohort, approximately 175 students and 43 staff members.
There will be an online option for students with underlying health conditions, elderly parents, or grandparents. And if exposed, students and staff will switch to on-line for two weeks.
The hybrid plan for Trinidad Middle School schedules two cohorts as well. Group A will attend classes on Mondays and Wednesdays. Group B will attend the in-person classes on Tuesday’s and Thursdays. The cohort groups will be assigned alphabetically, while considering multiple student households. On days when students are not receiving in-person instruction, they will be required to complete remote learning, including on Fridays between September and January.
Trinidad High School students with the last name beginning with A through M will attend in-person classes on Mondays and Wednesdays. They will go through screening procedures before entering the building. Students with the last names beginning with A through E will report to the South East doors located by the Math wing to be screened. Students with the last name beginning in F through M will report to the South West doors located by the ELA wing to be screened.
Students with last names beginning with N through Z will report to school for in-person classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week. They will go through screening procedures before entering the building.
Students with last names beginning with N through S will report to the southeast doors located by the math wing to be screened. Students with the last name beginning with T though Z will report to the southwest doors located by the ELA wing to be screened.
General conduct
Students will be allowed to enter the building at 7:30 am.
All students may be able to have lunch every day whether they have an instructional day or an at home day. Some classified employees may be completely reassigned for screening and containment efforts.
All staff will be required to wear masks.
ELL and special needs students may continue with instruction in the same manner as open campus. high school students may or may not have blended learning days.
There will be days in which the entire school is utilizing distance learning to disinfect the facility. These may occur in one, two or four day increments.
Staggered passing periods for students in school will be utilized with one directional hallways. All students and staff will be required to follow social distancing during passing times.
Governor Polis has declared public schools to be a critical business with essential personnel. According to the district’s website they will be taking some extra safety measures which include air purifiers in every room, desk shields, shields, gloves, masks, touchless sanitizers, foggers, touchless thermometers and social distancing signage.
