MCSD modifies schedule to comply with state law

     Over the weekend, Monticello Community School District staff received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. They are scheduled to receive the second dose on March 6.

     “Staff is not required to receive the vaccine,” noted Superintendent Brian Jaeger in his weekly COVID update, “however I do believe a large number of our staff members intend to receive the vaccine.”

     Earlier in the week, Jaeger released a video addressing Governor Kim Reynolds’ law mandating schools in Iowa offer 100 percent in-person learning by Feb. 17. The MCSD has been offering families three options: in-person learning with every Wednesday treated as mandatory online learning, full online learning, and hybrid learning. Taking the Governor’s mandates into account, the MCSD has decided to have in-person learning every Wednesday from 8 a.m. to noon. These changes will take effect the week of Feb. 15, with students reporting to classes on Feb. 17.

     Students will have an early dismissal every Wednesday. The afternoon will allow staff to take part in professional development, have time for online lessons, or use the time as a workday “to meet all of the needs of online learners and in-person learners,” said Jaeger.

     Keep in mind the MCSD still has families taking part in online learning for various reasons.

     “If you’re an online learner 100 percent of the time, we still encourage you to come back and be a full-time in-person learner,” urged Jaeger.

     With students and staff being in school for half of Wednesdays, Jaeger said that will make it harder for online students to reach out to teachers with questions, hoping to hear back right away.

     In addition, online learners would have the option of coming into the schools on Wednesdays to meet with teachers face-to-face. Those rules will be tightened, and students will need to have approval from a teacher before coming to the buildings.

     “It’s not a drop-in basis,” noted Jaeger.

     Snow days will still be required online learning days.

     Another change: Panther Academy will only be open half days on Wednesday. And preschool will still run four days a week as it currently runs: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

     Jaeger was honest in his online remarks regarding the state’s new policy for schools.

     “I feel like we had a balance between our families and our staff to get prepared for this online learning, and throughout the whole year the state has continued to throw curve ball after curve ball and change after change,” he said. “We continue to adapt. We continue to do the best we can. This is our best solution to this. I really want to honor what the new law says and follow the law.”

     Jaeger also apologized for the inconvenience this new school schedule will cause many families, especially those with young children needing childcare. He also alluded to the possibility that Reynolds and/or the state legislature might throw more changes at schools before the end of the school year.

     The MCSD sent out a survey to parents regarding changes to the school schedule to collect feedback.

     Regarding COVID numbers in the district, Jaeger said, “We are still in a very good place with our numbers.”

     The district currently has seven students and one staff member in isolation, and eight students and one staff in quarantine.

     “For the third week in a row, these numbers continue to be very good for our school,” said Jaeger.

     Eleven percent of the student body, PreK-12 are still participating in either full online or hybrid learning.