Osseo Schools To Bring Secondary Students Back to Hybrid Learning

The Osseo School Board approved the superintendent’s recommendation to move students in grades 6-12 to a hybrid model of learning. The approval came at a board meeting Friday, Jan. 29.

“We continue to see the impact of the pandemic on academic, social and nutritional well-being of students and we see the need to prioritize in-person learning while doing it safely,” said Superintendent Cory McIntyre in the meeting. “We’re at a point in time of being able to take another step toward meeting that need.”

Under the approved plan, the first wave of students in grades 6-9 and 12 will return on Feb. 17.

Students in grades 10-11 will return on March 1.

Students would return to campus in their previously assigned groups. School buildings and buses would operate at 50 percent capacity.

For students not enrolled in the Distance Learning Academy, there will not be school for students on February 12 and 16 so teachers can prepare for the switch.

School Board Members Hear from Parents

School board members said in the meeting that they’ve heard quite a bit from parents about students returning to school.

“I’ve heard from parents who are tired of having kids at home, parents who are tired of teaching, and parents who need to work,” said school board member Tamara Grady. “Our teachers have worked so hard to forge a new educational environment in the middle of a global pandemic. I want to let you know we hear you.”

Some board members expressed frustration at the model, but acknowledged it followed guidance passed down by the Minnesota Department of Health and the Department of Education.

“Frankly I’m not happy with this model,” said school board member Thomas Brooks. “I’ve received quite a few emails and messages about this hybrid model and very few of them, if any, have been positive about either side of the argument. So I don’t feel confident we’re setting our kids up for success with this model.”

Elementary school students started back in a phased return that began around Jan. 19. State guidance changed to allow younger students to return to school, while the parameters for secondary learning have not changed, which means full in-person learning is not yet an option for secondary students.

You can read the school district’s announcement here.

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