TUHSD will model hybrid of in-person and remote learning starting January 2021

Alice Simenstad and Dylan Carson|October 9, 2020

Jacob Weller

If county health officials give TUHSD the ok, the district will follow this plan: On Mondays, Groups A and B will be at home. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Group A will be at school and Group B will be at home on Zoom. On Thursdays and Fridays Group B will be at school and Group A will be at home on Zoom. Groups are determined by last name to keep siblings together.

On the morning of Friday, Oct 9, the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) Superintendent Tara Taupier sent out an email to students and families announcing the start of hybrid learning in January of 2021.

Students will return to campus in January at the start of the spring semester using the hybrid learning model which is a combination of online and in-person learning. “Through the negotiations process we have agreed that we will remain in distance learning through the fall semester and expect to return to in-person instruction in January at the start of second semester,” Taupier said in the email.

The students will be divided into two groups based on last names that decide when they will attend school for campus learning. “Group A will attend classes in person on Tuesday and Wednesday and work remotely on Thursday and Friday. Group B will work remotely on Monday and Tuesday and attend classes in person on Thursday and Friday,” said Taupier. The Monday schedule will remain the same, with all students learning remotely.

To ensure the safety of staff and students, basic safety precautions will be enforced. All students will be required to wear face coverings at all times except when eating.  Students will be required to be physically distanced and will not be allowed to share school supplies. Students will not be allowed to leave campus at lunch time or gather in hallways or in other spaces, even during lunch and breaks. 

“We continue to prioritize staff and student safety as well as student learning as we plan for a return to in-person instruction. We are working diligently to ensure our staff and campuses are prepared to safely meet the challenges of in-person learning during COVID-19,” Taupier said.

Our administration and students are expected to return to school in January, but it all depends on Marin County’s COVID-19 numbers. “The transition to a hybrid model is dependent upon Marin County maintaining or improving its COVID-19 numbers and the District’s ability to implement all of the necessary measures to keep students and staff safe,” Taupier said. 

If COVID-19 cases are controlled or decrease, staff and students will be able to take a break from Zoom and return to school at the beginning of January.