Tuesday, November 10, 2020 - 3:10 pm
Superintendent Dana Monogue and other administrators provided an update on the District's latest efforts related to pandemic planning at the Board of Education regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 9.
Board president Annette Ashley presided over the meeting at the District Services Center, while other Board members participated remotely. The School Board has been meeting virtually since mid-March.
Monogue briefly reviewed the COVID-19 dashboard, which is available on the District website. She noted it is updated daily and that MCPASD has experienced positive cases in multiple buildings over the past couple of weeks. She also noted the number of new cases in Dane County per 100,000 people over the past 14 days has jumped from 167 to 277 since the meeting on Oct. 26, while the percentage of positive tests over the past two weeks has increased to 6.7% and moved into the moderate risk category.
Director of Elementary Education Rainey Briggs provided an overview of the elementary virtual learning models. He noted elementary teachers recently completed a survey and that administrators and instructional coaches will use that data along with the results of the recently completed family survey to determine what changes should take place and how to improve the models to help students be even more successful.
He reminded the Board that an instructional design team made up of principals, instructional coaches, specialists and grade-level teachers met all summer to develop the current models. Briggs also noted differentiated instruction is occurring in classrooms, just like it normally would. The models allow teachers to be the experts and determine students the best, he said.
"Educators are doing the hard work and digging deep to get to know students better and determine what they need,'' Briggs said.
Monogue then provided an update on area districts. She noted Waunakee, which is using a half-day model, brought back students in grades 3-4 on Oct. 26. and plans to bring back students in grades 5-6 on Nov. 30 and students in grades 7-12 in January. Monona Grove plans Plan to implement a 2-1-2 model for K-2 students starting Jan. 25, while Sun Prairie plans to bring back K-2 students in a 2-1-2 model starting Dec. 7.
District staff recently visited Windsor Elementary in DeForest and learned quite a bit, Monogue said.
Monogue noted most districts with in-person instruction have experienced student and staff illness. She noted that area districts such as Baraboo, Mineral Point and Lake Mills have had to close schools due to positive cases. Oshkosh recently announced it will move from a virtual to blended model starting later this week, while La Crosse announced it will remain all-virtual.
Monogue recently completed a second round of staff listening sessions for every school along with employees at DOC, DSC, and Transportation. The sessions were well-attended and staff have been appreciative of the District's cautious approach. Staff indicated they continue to work on getting to know students better and helping students find the resources they need. Staff also reported high levels of engagement and attendance among students and appreciate the collaboration taking place across the District.
Board members had questions about more drop-in opportunities involving students and educators. Members also wondered how Waunakee plans to bring back older students. Deputy Superintendent Sherri Cyra said she was told grades 5-6 would be in half-day model, while older grades will have model based on class schedule.