APPLETON, Wis (NBC 26) -- The Appleton Area School District and its board of education have presented a return to school framework for the fall quarter. It's a plan that includes in-person and virtual learning for many of its students.
On Monday, the district's board of education voted in favor of allowing children in fourth grade and under to return to school for in-person learning five days a week in the fall. But for students who are not comfortable returning in person, staff will give the students the opportunity to participate in virtual learning instead.
The board also decided that grades 5 through 12 who want to return to class will separate into two groups, with half of the students learning in person on Monday and Tuesday and the other half attending in-person classes on Thursday and Friday. By breaking up the week like this administrators say those students will learn in the fall through a combination of the two teaching methods.
Judy Basman the Appleton Area School District's Superintendent says by taking a day off mid-week, it will allow time for janitorial staff to do a thorough cleaning.
"On Wednesday our priority is to disinfect all of the spaces. Our facilities and operations director has a protocol fully developed."
Facemasks will be required for everyone returning to school in the fall. Baseman says parents have until August 6th to notify their child's school of their preference of in-person teaching or virtually teaching.
While the framework for the first semester is being established right now, Baseman says teachers are preparing to go to a virtual teaching environment if public health officials advise so.
