SANDY, Utah – A plan to reopen schools and return to in-person learning was presented to the Canyons School District Board Tuesday, impacting roughly 34,000 Utah students.
In the district’s proposed plans to re-open, CSD included three different options that would be available for families to choose from for the fall 2020 school semester.
The first option provides a completely in-person learning experience that would be as similar as possible to what students are used to.
The second provides a 100 percent online platform where students will be taught remotely through their school within the district.
And finally, a third option would allow parents to homeschool their children using curriculum provided by the district.
Under the proposed plan, students would be required to stick with whichever plan is chosen for at least one semester.
The district provided a PowerPoint (below) briefly outlining details. However, the main topic of debate: Is it too soon to be going back to in-person learning?
“I’m scared… I’m scared that I’m not going to make it through the school year,” said CSD high school teacher Sam Webb. “I’m 27 years old and I’ve got kids, and I’ve got a family, and I get kids want to socialize but I want to live.”
More than a dozen people provided comment in opposition to in-person learning, while few stated they wanted to be back.
“Kids are not primary vectors of this disease,” said Amy, another teacher. “I think it’s important that you understand the collateral damage of having kids out of school for an extended period of time.”
A presenter said a number of variables would be taken into consideration, depending on the amount of interest the district receives for each plan.
Canyons School District enrollment opens the week of July 27, and families are encouraged to complete enrollment promptly.
Following more than four hours of discussion, comment and deliberations, the board had not yet voted on adopting the plan.
The district needs to present their plan to reopen to the State Board of Education by August 1.
