KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Lawrence Public School Board voted Monday night to delay the start of the hybrid learning model for elementary students until the end of the trimester.
Elementary students' first day in the new learning model, which will blend on-site and remote instruction, will now be Nov. 9.
The school district said the decision to delay the hybrid model came after the board learned that 27 teacher reassignments would be required to honor the number of students who chose distance learning.
In September, the district matched 308 elementary students enrolled in distance learning with 17 teachers. After the second round of elementary enrollments concluded last week, an additional 734 students chose Distance Learning.
The additional staff reassignments are needed to support the now 1,042 students now enrolled in distance learning. Some students who previously selected distance learning and hybrid models will see changes in teachers.
More than 70% of students enrolled in hybrid learning.
For other age groups, some middle school students will start transitioning to hybrid learning next week. Sixth graders will return the week of Oct. 26. New seventh and eighth graders return the week of Nov. 2 and the remaining students start the Hybrid model on Nov. 9.
Both high schools will follow a similar phasing plan as the middle schools for their transition to hybrid learning.
Students experiencing internet connectivity issues will be brought back next week. Freshman and other identified vulnerable populations will return the week of Oct. 26. New students in grades 10-12 return to the buildings Nov. 2, and then the remaining students follow the week of Nov. 9.
