Highland schools forge ahead with mixed in-person, remote approach amid COVID-19

Highland schools are continuing with their mixture of on-ground and distance learning for the time being, while Madison County districts continue to adjust to increasing restrictions from the state and rising infection rates.

“We knew there would be lots of challenges,” Superintendent Mike Sutton told the Highland District 5 school board at their meeting Aug. 24. “But I’m happy to report that for the most part, the rules we have established are being followed.”

Sutton said one of their biggest concerns was their ability to properly staff the classrooms, with some students being taught on-ground and other students learning from home. High school and middle school teachers are teaching half days: On-ground in the morning, remote learners in the afternoons. At the elementary level, some teachers are teaching on-ground and others are teaching online.

However, Sutton said so far the absences for staff members have been lower than in a normal year. There have been concerns about taking social distancing seriously and exposure, he said, but one of his biggest concerns appears to be under control.

“Face masks have not been an issue at all,” he said. “There was a lot of concern whether folks would comply with mask requirements ... but they know they will not be able to come to school if they don’t follow the rules.”

A Highland program assistant tested positive for COVID-19 on the first day staff members reported to work. Students were not in attendance, and the staff member was asymptomatic.

Sutton said the district worked with the health department to trace anyone who might have been in contact with the staff member, which he said “created a whole lot of work.” Therefore, Sutton said anyone awaiting test results should stay home until the results are known, even if it’s just out of an abundance of caution.

So far, however, he said there has been no evidence of any transmission of COVID-19 in Highland schools. In a letter to parents on Friday, he said he is not aware of any other positive tests among students or staff.

“When we start seeing transmission in the schools, we will have an issue,” he said.

But until that happens, the plan is to carry on with in-person learning “until there is a reason not to,” he said.

If Highland has to go to all-remote learning, Sutton said they would hope to be able to give a week’s notice for parents and teachers to make plans for child care. He told the school board the credit goes to the teachers.

Sutton praises staff, notes attendance drop

“Our staff have shown tremendous resolve to stay healthy and balance the challenges of in-person vs. remote learning. My hat goes off to them,” Sutton said. “This has been a true team effort.”

In the meantime, enrollment in Highland is down by 40 students, he said. This was much less than anticipated, as all schools were anticipating a large drop in enrollment due to the pandemic, Sutton said.

The state has recently placed greater restrictions on the metro-east due to positivity rates above 8.5 percent for several days in a row. A new deadline for stricter regulations arrives Wednesday, Sept. 2.

This story was originally published September 1, 2020 at 10:03 AM.