Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County School District has decided to resume in-person instruction next week on a hybrid schedule.  

That announcement was made Thursday afternoon by Superintendent Robert Tuck after discussions with school personnel and principals.  

“We have spent much of the day today reviewing our Covid numbers throughout the district, our positive cases, and our contact tracing numbers for both teachers and students.  Along with this review of data, we have polled our Principals who have spoken with teachers across the district and have discussed the pros and cons of in-person classes vs. NTI for the upcoming week,” said Tuck.  

Supt. Tuck indicated that “Red” (NTI only), “Orange” (1 day per week), and “Yellow” (two days per week) were all given consideration. 

“There have been many pertinent and important points made for a return to in-person setting for our students along with arguments made to remain on NTI for the upcoming week.  This discussion was fruitful and allowed us to focus on several key points;” said Tuck.  “First and foremost, there was a solid consensus amongst all of our staff that "Orange" is not as effective for in-person instruction for our students.  It was felt that time would be better spent putting in extra focus on another form of in-person (Yellow) or on Google Classroom lessons for NTI (Red).”

According to Tuck, there was also a strong consensus that the district needed to choose between going “Yellow” or “Red” on our matrix for the upcoming week.

“It was understood amongst all of our principals and staff polled that there is some concern with the rising number of cases within our county, that we do have teachers and students quarantined currently, but that current trends show numbers decreasing in Butler County,” said Tuck.  “Our data shows that as of Monday we will have 6 individuals who will still be quarantined due to a positive test result with 3 of those individuals being staff members and 3 being students.  We will have 10 staff quarantined with 42 students quarantined.  Of the 10 staff quarantines, we have 5 who will return by Wednesday and 35 students who will return from quarantine by Wednesday.” 

After lengthy discussion, school officials settled on resuming in-person instruction on the district’s “Yellow” schedule for the week of January 11-15.

“It was the consensus amongst all that a return to Yellow A/B schedule gives us the best opportunity to educate our students while also focusing on the needed social and mental health aspects of education that only in-person instruction can bring,” said Tuck.  “‘A’ students will attend on Monday/Tuesday with ‘B’ students attending on Thursday/Friday.  Wednesdays will be used as an NTI day as well as to allow for small pod instruction for those in most need as identified by our schools."

The superintendent reiterated that all Healthy At School guidelines are in place and will be reviewed with staff and students.   

Supt. Tuck stated that moving forward, the district will be making school decisions like these no later than Wednesday afternoon in order to give additional time for teachers, students and families to make plans and prepare.