NAVIGATING SCHOOL: District Reopening Plans for upcoming school year

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Wisconsin school districts continue working to craft reopening plans amid the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s a full list by county of where districts stand in those decisions. These plans are subject to change and this list will be updated as we learn of those changes.

COLUMBIA COUNTY

Cambria-Friesland School District

Face to face and remote access learning options available.

Columbus School District

The superintendent said the district will implement a hybrid reopening plan: elementary-aged students will learn in-person four days a week, and middle and high school students will be in-person instruction two days per week, split up into two groups. All students will learn virtual on Wednesdays while facilities are cleaned.

Fall River School District

Fall River Schools will be open five days a week this fall, with safety precautions in place, such as sanitizing machines, and the use of face masks or shields when social distancing is not possible. Families who are not ready for in person learning at this time may request that they start the year with online learning provided by the school district.

Lodi School District

The School District of Lodi will begin the year with an online enhanced instructional model through the first term ending on Nov. 6. Students will start the year with online instruction while allowing the district to bring in some students for small group instruction as needed that will allow for social distancing and safety.

Pardeeville Area School District

The school board is planning to approve a plan to reopen school at its Aug. 3 meeting

Portage Community School District

The school district approved its Return to Learn plan July 27. For elementary schools, there will be in-person instruction five days per week. For middle and high school students, there will be in-person instruction two days per week, combined with online instruction. A fully digital option is available for all families in the district.

Poynette School District

Preliminary plan was approved on July 20. In-person instruction will be four days per week with virtual learning on Wednesdays. There will also be a 100 percent virtual option available for families who want to do so.

Rio Community School District

The district has different instructional options depending on grade level. For elementary school, students could attend five days per week or a remote learning option. Middle and high school students will have blended learning, where students are assigned to an “A” or “B” day. A virtual learning option is available to middle and high school students.

DANE COUNTY

Belleville School District

The Belleville School District board members voted to begin the year under the hybrid model across the district. The district says this model received the most support from both parents and staff in a recent survey.

The district says any family can still opt-in to full-time virtual learning if they choose during the registration process.

Cambridge School District

The Cambridge Board of Education is meeting on July 30th to discuss reopening plans and may make a decision at their meeting.

DeForest Area School District

On July 27th, the DeForest Area School District’s Board of Education approved a reopening plan which gives families two options. Group 1: Virtual only

Group 2: In-person/hybrid/virtual continuum. The Board also supported the administration’s recommendation to begin the Group 2 school year with virtual instruction with the intent to phase in specific small groups of students with educational plans (IEP, ELL, etc) later in September.

The district says it will also look to phase in other groups of students sometime during the first quarter in coordination with Public Health guidance. A detailed description of the Reopening Plan will be sent to all families and staff on Wednesday, July 29.

Deerfield Community School District

On July 27th the school board voted to begin the year with an all virtual start.

Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District will hold classes entirely online through at least October.

Marshall Public Schools

Marshall Public Schools will start the year virtually for all students. They will reevaluate again in October to determine the next steps.

McFarland School District

The Board voted on a phased approach to resuming in-person instruction as public health conditions allow.

Framework for the Gradual Reopening of Schools

Step 1: Staff only

Step 2: Remote learning provided by McFarland educators with targeted in-person supports. Remote learning includes scheduled classes and synchronous (real time) interactions among students and teachers.

Step 3: Hybrid/Blended Learning (50% in-person learning, 50% remote learning)

Step 4: Full in-person attendance in a student cohort model (all students in attendance at the same time)

Step 5: Traditional in-person attendance; student cohorts no longer required

Middleton-Cross Plains School District

The Middleton-Cross Plains School District will begin the year with an all virtual start. The district says it hopes to move to a hybrid learning plan when Dane County enters phase three of its reopening plan.

Monona Grove School District

The board voted to begin the first quarter of 2020-21 with virtual learning. The district says it will monitor and evaluate the plan each subsequent quarter.

Mount Horeb Area School District

The district is considering an all virtual start. The next school board meeting is August 3rd.

Oregon School District

Dr. Bergstrom will announce the fall plan on July 30th.

Stoughton Area School District

Stoughton Schools will begin the school year with “enhanced virtual learning”, then follow a phased-in approach. The Board of Education unanimously approved the recommendation on July 20th.

Sun Prairie Area School District

Sun Prairie Area School District administrators expect to start the school year entirely online and does not expect any in-school instruction to happen until at least the second quarter.

Verona Area School District

The Verona Board of Education voted to start the school year virtually for most students with some grade levels receiving the option to return in-person. Parents will have two different instructional models to choose from. The first is an all virtual start with a possible return to classes based on public health data. The second option is all virtual learning for at least the first semester, regardless if in-person learning becomes possible.

Waunakee Community School District

On Aug. 3, The Waunakee Board of Education reversed its original decision to begin the year with “Enhanced Remote Learning”. The new plan calls for K-4th grade students to attend class in-person four days a week. Students will be divided into groups, AM & PM to allow social distancing. Older students will still follow the Enhanced Remote Learning model. Parents of K-4 students will still have the option to opt for all-virtual learning.

The district hopes to transition all students to a Hybrid model after the first quarter.

Wisconsin Heights School District

First Quarter instruction during the 2020-21 School Year will be delivered via an Enhanced Online Environment (September 1 – November 4).

GRANT COUNTY

Boscobel Area School District

Decision is TBD.

Cassville School District

Students will return to school face-to-face five days a week. Grades 7-12 will operate on a Block Schedule. Registration packets are being mailed to families the first week of August.

Cuba City School District

The school board discussed in person learning options during a July 17th meeting. A final decision is TBA.

Fennimore Community School District

Decision is TBD.

Lancaster Community School District

Decision is TBD.

Platteville School District

The district plans for students to begin the year with face-to-face classes.

Potosi School District

Students will return to their classrooms in the fall with virtual options for families who choose.

River Ridge School District

Decision is TBD.

Riverdale School District

Decision is TBD.

Southwestern Wisconsin School District

Decision is TBD.

GREEN COUNTY

Albany Public Schools

As of Sept. 9 the district is going fully virtual until Sept. 18 in order to conduct contact tracing after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

Broadhead School District

Three options are listed in the district’s reopening plan. This includes in-person learning, blended, and all virtual.

Juda School District

Decision is TBD.

Monroe School District

Decision is TBD.

Monticello School District

Students will return for in-person learning.

New Glarus School District

The Board approved a blended learning plan. New Glarus School District will also offer a full virtual option to parents as a choice.

IOWA COUNTY

Barneveld School District

Students will return to in-person classes this fall.

Dodgeville School District

Students will be divided into two groups: ELPS-9th graders will come to school each day for in-person learning. The grade levels will be divided to accommodate physical distancing.

Students in grades 10-12 will have a blended learning program - asynchronous (on their own time), synchronous (in real time) and in-person. In this model, students will receive their education both via virtual format, including asynchronous (on their own time), synchronous (in real time), and in-person. The in-person instruction could come in the form of classes, lab work, discussion sessions, learning groups, etc. and could be offered at various times throughout the day.

The district says all parents have the choice to keep their child, of any grade, home.

Highland School District

Decision is TBD.

Mineral Point School District

A Hybrid learning model was approved by the board. The plan calls for students to attend school in-person two days per week and the other days will be used for online learning.

JUNEAU COUNTY

Necedah Area School District

Decision is TBD.

New Lisbon School District

Decision is TBD.

Royall School District

Decision is TBD.

School District of Mauston

Decision is TBD.

Wonewoc-Union Center School District

Families are being given the option to choose a learning model.

LAFAYETTE COUNTY

Argyle School District

Decision is TBD.

Belmont Community School District

Students are expected to return to their classrooms.

Benton School District

Decision is TBD.

Black Hawk School District

Decision is TBD.

Darlington Community School District

In-person learning will be the model for reopening.

Pecatonica Area School District

Decision is TBD.

Shullsburg School District

Students will begin the year with in-person classes.

ROCK COUNTY

School District of Beloit

The school year will begin in distance learning or through Beloit Virtual School for the first term ending Oct. 30.

School District of Beloit Turner

In person and online option available. The district says plans are subject to change per guidance from the Rock County health department. Face coverings are expected to be required for in person learning.

Clinton Community School District

As of July 15th, the district is offering in person and virtual options for families. On July 21, families interested in online learning were sent a survey. Decisions for virtual learning plans will be made based on the results of the survey.

Edgerton School District

In person and virtual learning options discussed during July 27th meeting. The next board meeting is scheduled Aug. 10th.

Evansville Community School District

The district says it has determined it can safely implement physical/social distancing requirements for 4K- 5 students that will allow them to attend in-person every day. However, average class sizes for 6-12 students do not meet safety requirements, prompting the district to create a blended learning model.

School District of Janesville

The Janesville School District voted on in-person instruction as the default, but parents will have the choice to register students for virtual or hybrid learning instead.

Milton School District

The Milton School District is giving families the choice of in-person or online learning.

Parkview School District

As of July 20th, the working reopening plan calls for either in person learning, temporary virtual, or permanent virtual.

SAUK COUNTY

Baraboo School District

Baraboo schools will begin the year with full in-person learning, 5 days a week for all students Early Childhood through Grade 12. Families who don’t feel comfortable can choose online learning but the district is asking families to commit to a choice for the first half of the school year by Aug. 7. In late fall, families will be asked their preferred instruction model for the second half of the year.

The district says depending on circumstances, at any time they may need to move between in person learning, hybrid, or full virtual.

School District of Reedsburg

Reedsburg officials are outlining learning options by grade level to account for flexibility. Click here for details

River Valley School District

The school district is currently surveying families with several choices for fall class formats. The choices were developed by steering committees. The instructional plan is forthcoming.

Sauk Prairie School District

Sauk Prairie District officials say feedback from families has lead to three different plans for the fall. The district says it’s planning for full in-person instruction in September but anticipates conditions may require a Plan B (Hybrid learning) or Plan C (Fully Virtual). The district says it will depend on recommendations from the Sauk County Health Department.

Weston School District

There are two options available for families in the Weston School District. With modified in-person instruction, students receive in-person instruction four days a week with one day of virtual instruction on Wednesdays. Families could also choose all virtual instruction as well.

School District of Wisconsin Dells

District Administrator, Terry Slack says the district is looking to finalize a decision by August 7th.