Dixon School Board expands in-person learning

DIXON – The Dixon School Board voted Wednesday to expand in-person learning at Dixon High School and Reagan Middle School in a split vote.

The schools will go to four days in-person with remote days on Fridays beginning March 8, following lengthy discussion by the board, staff and administrators.

The preliminary plans presented called for five days in-person or remote from 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting Monday, but a majority of board members voted to amend the plans to four days starting March 8 to account for teacher concerns and safety precautions, since social distancing cannot be maintained at the two schools.

Teachers were in favor of extending the date to March 8, which would be two weeks after they would be fully vaccinated, when the COVID-19 vaccine is deemed most effective at around 95%.

The majority approving the four-day plan and start date were board President Linda Wegner, Vice President Kelly Flanagan, and members Rachel Cocar and Rachael Gehlbach. Those against were members Brad Sibley, JR Humphrey and Melissa Gates.

The board received three letters prior to the vote, including one by a high school sophomore signed by 26 other students hesitant of a five-day week until conditions are safer, concerned about how spread could transition the schools to full-remote and cancel sports.

Board members agreed that coronavirus cases have decreased in the community, but there were questions of teacher safety and social distancing.

Superintendent Margo Empen said all schools have been in the low-risk category for positive cases and quarantines the last four to six weeks.

There was also interest in keeping Fridays as remote days as well as a day when at-risk students can seek additional help, which has seen success during the last few months.

Those at risk for summer school have declined from 270 in the first quarter to 142 at Reagan Middle School, and they would see 40 to 90 students on Fridays.

Prior to the vote, the plans were either full-remote or blended learning with two days in-person at the high and middle schools.

In October, the board expanded K-5 students to four in-person days a week.

In November, the district went to a full-remote schedule for all students because of the alarming coronavirus spread in the community; students returned to their school plans last month.