CPS board considering two-day, four-day in-person learning plans

The Columbia Public Schools Board of Education hears a couple ways it could return to in-person learning.

The board held a special session on Tuesday afternoon, ahead of an official vote at its regular Oct. 12 meeting.

Supt. Peter Stiepleman laid out a hybrid model to return students in-seat two days a week, and a plan to do it four days a week.

Stiepleman said the two-day model allows for social distancing, but he says it does not seem like a viable option anymore. He says it will be complex, and probably would lead to students having to learn content on their own that is posted online during the three days a week they are not in-seat.

The four-day model would allow the district to clean buildings on Wednesdays, but kids would not be able to socially distance. Stiepleman says, out of the athletic teams in middle school and high school that have met and competed in-person, 164 students and 16 coaches have either caught COVID-19 or had to quarantine as a close contact.

CPS started the school year with almost everyone learning virtually. If the board approves either in-seat plan Stiepleman presented Tuesday, elementary students would return on Oct. 19. Middle schoolers would start with their second quarter, on Nov. 5. High schoolers would not return until Jan. 19.