LEWES, Del.- The Cape Henlopen School Board voted in favor of the hybrid model as recommended by Superintendent Bob Fulton.
The hybrid model will allow parents to choose whether their children will attend school in person or if they will be instructed remotely. Fulton says that the safety of all staff and students is top priority in making this decision.
"I’ve been here for thirty years," Fulton said. "I care about the district. I’m close with and care about our staff members throughout the entire district and I don’t want to take off more than we can do and do well, so that is the forefront."
If students are learning remotely, they must stay in remote instruction for the duration of the first marking period. Students can be added to in-person learning for the second marking period if space permits.
If choosing to come to school, elementary school students would receive five days of in person instruction. Middle School students would receive two days of in-person and one day remotely. High School students would get the same on a semester block schedule.
"I looked at it from a family point of view because I want my family to be safe," BOE member Janet Maull-Martin said. "I want the Cape family to be safe. I believe that we have the best administrators in the state of Delaware and I believe wholeheartedly that they would say to us this evening give us the guidelines and let us go and do what needs to be done."
While safety is at the top of each school board member’s mind, Vice President of the BOE Jason Bradley thought the hybrid still is not safe enough.
"I’m just not 100% convinced that even if we do everything possible that we can keep everybody safe and that is my biggest concern at this point," Bradley said. The safety of all of our teachers, all of our kids, all of our sports staff. So, I am not 100% convinced that we can go back to any in-person instruction at this time."
On Friday, the reopening plan has been released to staff and families. It includes the mandates on mandatory face coverings and social distancing.
