HONOLULU — The state Department of Education is reconsidering how to bring students back to public schools after a statewide spike in COVID-19 cases, with public schools on O‘ahu implementing full distance-learning models for the first four weeks of the 2020-21 school year, starting on Monday, Aug. 17.
The decision was announced by Gov. David Ige and DOE Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto on Friday, who said the neighbor islands will have full control on making their own decisions based on what is best for their schools.
No changes have been announced for the Kaua‘i Complex Area as of print deadline on Friday, and the Kaua’i Complex Area superintendent’s office did not provide a statement on the issue before publication. As of Friday, plans for Kaua‘i’s public schools are to reopen on Aug. 17 with three models of instruction available: in-person, blended, and distance-learning.
The decision to postpone bringing students physically back to campuses on O‘ahu was made after Ige’s Thursday announcement of the reinstatement of a partial interisland quarantine, effective Tuesday Aug. 11.
“This is a challenging time,” said Ige in a Friday statement. “And I know that parents, teachers and students are worried. I also realize that keeping students at home is going to be an additional burden on working parents.”
He continued: “I know you’re frustrated with all of these measures…everyone wants our lives to return to normal, but we still need to be vigilant, and taking personal responsibility is still the best way to fight COVID-19.”
The DOE has designed three phases for bringing students back to O‘ahu schools:
w The first phase is dedicated to in-person training for students, and spans Monday to Thursday, Aug. 17 to 20.
DOE officials said that, during the first week of school, students will physically return to campuses on a coordinated and scheduled basis, determined by each individual school, to connect with their teachers, receive training on the distance-learning platforms, and address issues with connectivity and access to technology. Special consideration will be given to vulnerable students and their families, including more in-person access to schools and teachers as needed.
Also starting on Aug. 17, O‘ahu cafeterias will be serving only grab-and-go meals. In-person dining will not be allowed. After-school programs will be suspended until students return to in-person or blended-learning models.
w The second phase, “ready to learn,” is from Monday, Aug. 24 to Friday, Sept. 11, and is when students fully go online for distance learning. DOE officials said supervised, in-person learning labs at schools would be available for students who do not have Wi-Fi connectivity in their homes.
w The transition to blended learning begins with the third phase, which will be implemented on Monday, Sept. 14.
The DOE said staff will continue to closely monitor the situation and work with the Governor’s Office and the state Department of Health to assess whether or not students can safely return to in-person or blended-learning models.
“If distance learning will continue for the remainder of the first quarter of school, an announcement will be made on Sept. 8,” said Kishimoto.
On Friday, in a virtual meeting, Hawai‘i State Teachers Association President Corey Rosenlee said there is still a push to open public schools to face-to-face learning during the peak of new cases on O‘ahu, so the HSTA board came to a decision — they’re urging public schools to teach 100% online through distance learning.
“Last night, HSTA board voted unanimously to support Hawai‘i public schools going to 100% distance learning starting Aug. 17 and continuing to the end of the first quarter, or until such time that public schools are safe for students, teachers and staff to be tighter on campuses,” said Rosenlee.
Kishimoto said although this is a state department, this decision was only made for O‘ahu. The other counties will have the right to make their own reopening decisions based on their area’s needs.
“The complex area superintendents on the neighbor islands will have the blended plan, and they will be looking whether they will continue that or make a recommendation to go with the same plan I just shared with O‘ahu schools,” said Kishimoto.
•••
Stephanie Shinno, features and community reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
