By MADDY VITALE
A new school year is just three weeks away. Ocean City school district students will return to five days of in-person instruction, while still social distancing, wearing face coverings and following all health and safety protocols.
A letter from Interim Schools Superintendent Dr. Tom Baruffi posted on the district’s website oceancityschools.org detailed the reopening plan. The first official day of school is Tuesday, Sept. 7.
“I am excited to be part of this outstanding school community and I look forward to meeting many of you in the days ahead,” Baruffi, of Ocean City, said in the letter.
The main difference between how the schools operated last year during the COVID-19 pandemic to how they will for the upcoming year is that there is in-class instruction all week without a virtual option.
However, if a student needs to be in remote instruction for a time, due to health reasons, then virtual learning will be provided, Baruffi explains in his letter.
Baruffi emphasized that the plan came from educators as well as input from the community and health officials, while following the CDC guidelines.
“Over the past several months, the Ocean City School District has gathered feedback from a number of sources to develop the Opening School Plan for the 2021-2022 school year,” he said.
A draft of the plan was distributed on June 24 so that the district could get the community’s input.
Baruffi said, “Although we recognize there are varying perspectives on mitigation strategies, the district has outlined a plan for opening schools for the 2021-2022 school year.”
To read the letter in its entirety click here: https://oceancityschools.org/uploads/1629140553Ltr%20to%20School%20Community%20081621%20.pdf
Parent Teacher Association President Jocelyn Palaganas said she, along with parents that she has spoken with, are pleased that students will once again be in class five days a week.
“I’m happy that the school district is open five days a week, and I am thankful that the district, the community and the state are working together to keep it open five days a week,” Palaganas said in an interview Wednesday.
Last year there were cohorts in a hybrid model of learning. Students in the high school, intermediate and primary schools were separated into groups to attend school.
The goal was to minimize the number of students in the building and allow for social distancing. In addition, families could choose to have their students remain home and learn through the Virtual Academy.
“This is totally different than last year,” Palaganas noted. “It is opposite of what we went through last year.”
Palaganas said the PTA is excited about the new school year.
“The PTA is looking forward to getting back into the swing of things with the fundraising efforts for the children,” she added. “We are happy that the children are getting back in school.”
Baruffi emphasized in his letter that because of the nature of the pandemic, the plan is fluid and the district will be ready if it needs to go back to the hybrid learning model or all-virtual instruction.
He explained, “If a school is required to exclude a student, group of students, a class, or multiple classes as a result of contact tracing the school will be prepared to offer virtual or remote instruction to those students in a manner commensurate with in-person instruction to the extent possible.”
