Members of the San Mateo Union High School District board and staff have been meeting in the past month to discuss the possibility of returning to in-person learning for the 2021 spring semester. On Nov. 28, San Mateo County was pushed into the state’s purple tier, the most restrictive, indicating widespread infections and new regulations. Before reopening high schools, the county must be back in the red tier for at least 14 days. After hours of presentation, public comment and trustee conversation, a general consensus was made in favor of adopting the AB Streaming model once health conditions allow for in-person learning again.
AB Streaming, a favored choice because of its instructional minute retention, consists of a hybrid of both in-person and virtual classes depending on students’ cohort days. Students will attend face-to-face classes two days a week and virtually classes via Zoom for the other two, depending on their cohort, A or B. The remaining days would be asynchronous, allowing students greater flexibility to continue their studies off Zoom. To account for social distancing, classrooms will be limited to 12 students and two teachers, similar to athletic conditioning pods over the summer.
Though this would have the least amount of schedule changes, screen time would remain very high, and teachers would have to manage both a class in-person and online. Consideration of student and teacher safety is of the utmost importance when adopting any model, and board members and staff are working diligently to form a solution that will improve the current learning conditions while keeping everyone safe.
“I think we’ll continue to have opportunities for a small number of students to come back on campus,” said Superintendent Kevin Skelly. “Not all in huge numbers, but I think there are possibilities there. … I’m watching kids, and they’re not nearly as engaged as they are when we’re [at school] in person.”
Virtual learning and excessive screen time are taking a serious toll on the physical and emotional well-being of students, demonstrating a need for change for more effective learning. Students are also experiencing a lack of motivation to complete schoolwork to the same standards as in person.
“I’ve definitely stopped doing assignments on time,” said sophomore Anna Sofia Abelgas. “Teachers are just more lenient on due dates and even if they have a due date, they may allow late assignments and will grade them. My grades haven’t slipped, but my work ethic has definitely gone down.”
In a message sent to students and families on Dec. 6, Principal Valerie Arbizu detailed some measures the district and Aragon were taking to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
“As of … Dec. 7, all athletic pods and on-campus learning pods will be closed for the remainder of the semester [and through winter vacation],” Arbizu wrote. “We anticipate additional guidance from the California Interscholastic Federation regarding athletics in early January.”
Face masks and six-foot distancing in and out of class will be mandatory for students and teachers. Schools will have on-site testing available, at no cost to uninsured students according to district plans. To ensure students understand the seriousness of abiding by health guidelines, presentations on following safety measures and consequences for those who break these measures are being considered if students return to in-person learning. The board will continue evaluating the possible return to campus while regarding the safety and well-being of students.
