UPDATED WITH CLARIFYING INFORMATION AT 1:25 P.M. ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 6.
Superintendent Dr. Carol Maher has released information regarding the Marshall Public School District’s “Returning to Learning” plan on Wednesday, August 5.
Marshall High School will be open five days a week, with students on a block schedule- which means, they will be in the building two days a week and then will be doing virtual learning the other three days. Group A students will be in the building for a set two days each week and Group B on the other two days. One group will be in classes on Monday and Tuesday, the other group will be in class on Thursday and Friday with the other three days being virtual learning.
Dr. Maher further explains Phase 3 in an updated release…
The high school schedule is somewhat different from the rest of the district as it is on a modified block schedule where students are broken into two groups: A & B. They rotate through the week, as explained in this message from Mr. Verts: Phase 2 = Blended Learning, A/B days in-person (Marshall High School students will be assigned to a Group A or B, and the groups will attend classes on alternate 12:30 Wednesdays.)
Phase 3 = Blended learning same as phase 2 and 100% distance learning on Wednesdays.
The blended learning format is one of a combination of on-site and distance learning. Again, in Phases 2 and 3, MHS is operating on a block schedule of two groups.
Dr. Maher’s release says “Marshall Public Schools’ plan for returning to school was developed through a collective effort of district and building-level administrators and is one made by information from national, state, and county health organizations in an effort to put students’ and staff’s health and safety first.
“Today, Missouri has been named as the second state in the nation, after Oklahoma, for the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading the quickest (“States With the Highest Number of COVID-19 Cases. Considering this and calculations from the Harvard Global Health Initiative, members of the MPS Administrative Team have unanimously voted to open school at Phase #3, which is a four-day on-site week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesdays, there will be no students at school. Teachers will be on campus working on distance learning for all.)
Dr. Maher’s original release continues: “Please Note: Phase 3 includes early-out Wednesdays. August 26 is a Wednesday, but since it is the first day of school, it will be a full day.
“Phase 3 will be implemented for at least the first three weeks of school. As we have communicated often: This plan is fluid and can change at any time. We will do our best to give at least a 72-hour notification of a switch from one phase to the next. Details of all phases may be found in the “Returning to Learning” document on the MPS website at <https://www.marshallschools.com>.)
Dr. Maher concludes: “The district understands the strain the virus has put on MPS families and our community and we stand in partnership with both. We are working to make decisions with our students’ best interest in the forefront. Our staff has worked hard to provide a safe and healthy environment for students and adults. We ask for your continued patience and support as we navigate the unknown and hold fast to that which is known – the priceless value we place on student and staff success.”