School administrators revealed details of the hybrid learning model South Tama will follow at a school board meeting Monday, August 3.

The board had previously approved opting with a hybrid model for returning to learn on Thursday, July 30 at a special session.

STC students and families will be provided two learning options including Hybrid Learning and Virtual Learning.

Hybrid Learning

Students who opt for Hybrid Learning will be divided into two cohorts, an A and a B.

Students in Cohort A will report to the building every Monday and Tuesday as well as every other Wednesday.

Students in Cohort B will report to school every Thursday and Friday as well as every other Wednesday.

All students from any given household will be kept on the same schedule.

In person classes will take place from 8:10 a.m. – 2:10 p.m. at the elementary, 8:15-2:15 at the middle school and 8:10-2:10 at the high school.

Students in both cohorts A and B will participate in asynchronous learning when not attending in person classes. There will be no synchronous learning as teachers will be providing instruction to the other cohort onsite. This means they will be learning online but there will be no live stream offered while either cohort is learning at home.

Families who opt for in person learning under the hybrid model may choose to switch to full-time virtual learning. However, once students have opted for the virtual learning option they may not return to in person learning until next quarter.

Students who enroll in the virtual learning option will be able to participate in all after school activities.

All applications for virtual learning for the first quarter are due Monday, August 10.

Health and Safety

Students who have a temperature of 100.4 or higher or have additional COVID-19 symptoms will be screened and sent home by the school nurse.

Tama County Public Health will be solely responsible for releasing your student back to school.

Your student may be subject to quarantine should they come into close contact with a COVID-19 positive person.

Water fountains will not be utilized. Water bottle refill stations will be available.

School activities and athletics will follow district procedures and refer to the athletic union and public health guidance.

All field trips and non-essential school related travel have been suspended until further notice.

Face Masks

Face masks will be required until further notice. Each student will be provided with one 3-ply cloth face mask. Please send your student with a cloth mask each day. Students can opt to use their own mask but it is encouraged to be as plain or with as little detail as possible.

A note from a provider is required if your student is unable to wear a mask.

There will be another school board meeting Monday, August 10 at 5 p.m.