Hybrid Learning

3 for the first time since the pandemic hit...for in-person extra help.

As school districts like fayette county continue to talk about ways to safely bring all kids back into the classroom with a hybrid model... abc 36's christy bollinger went to a district that's had in-person learning for almost a month now to see how it's going.

L3 christy: abc 36 news ph.d.

Superintendent, montgomery co.

Schools l3: abc 36 news white how is hyrbid learning going?

Montgomery county christy"for montgomery county about 60% of its students are back inside the classrooms for at least two days a week."

The school district is going into its fourth week of being hybrid... a mixture of in-person and virtual learning.... with two days in school... and the other three online at home.

Superintendent matt thompson"it's gone very well.

We've been able to have kids come back in which has been an extremely positive thing for both them and us."

Of the county's roughly 43-hundred students... about 25-hundred are getting in-person instruction... they're divided into two different groups.

"beause of the hybrid model we are able to have smaller class sizes."

Which the district is getting positive feedback on... with more personal attention for the students.

"we're able to socially distance in 90-95% of our classrooms. that in turn results in less quarantining."

Superintendent matt thompson says they've only had two students inside the school test positive... and no other students have had to quarantine.

And though being back in schools has been a success..

Thompson says there have been challenges.

"our teachers are looking at different models where they're trying to provide support and instruction on those non in person days and that's just tough."

What will make that easier..

Is being in person five days a week... but he knows they're not quite there yet.

Thompson says a big part of the district's success is due to visiting another district with students in class to see what it looks like.

"it helped reinforce we did have a good plan but it also allowed us to find a couple pieces that we needed to strengthen."

He advises any district considering in-person to do the same.

Christy bollinger, abc 36 news.

Even though some fayette county public school students were back in class today for the first time since march...it's still uncertain when 'all' the students will get back into the classroom.

The fayette county board of education is scheduled to meet later this week.

The board must decide soon if it will stick with the tentative plan to get students back into the classroom the week of november second.

Whenever that day comes...it's uncertain what it will look like....will it be a hybrid schedule with some in-person classes on certain days and the rest online?

Boardmember tyler murphy says the board is waiting for a hybrid plan from the district and the board wants it by the 26th.

" i do think that we need to use the time we have to be planning and engaging our educators and planning for any contingiency.

And once we have those plans in place then we can green light whatever the situation on the ground allows us to greenlight."

He says a specific date will come after a clear plan is set.

There will