The Peoria Public Schools board spent more than two hours Wednesday night discussing refinements to its fall Return to School plan.
Superintendent Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat said committees have spent weeks agonizing over the choices that ultimately led to a hybrid learning schedule, in which groups of students will attend school in person or virtually on alternating days. She said the hybrid model has fewer downsides than a full return to in-school classes for all 13,000 students, or full virtual learning.
"It was made very, very clear to the board, to the public, that the plan is fluid, and we have to be agile. We have to be agile. And we have to be able to pivot at any time. And we have been doing that," she said.
Desmoulin-Kherat said the hybrid model of alternating virtual and in-class learning days won't make everyone happy, but it's a necessary compromise measure.
"The plan is coming together. We have to remind ourselves that this will not be a normal year as we know it," she said.
Students and families also will have the option to opt for full virtual learning in 2020. Administrators say the current plan would change drastically if a worsening COVID-19 situation forced the region back to Phase 3 of the governor's reopening plan.
Details about the district's Fall 2020 Reopening can be found here.
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