HOLLAND, Ohio — Springfield students will soon be back to learning in person under the district's hybrid model.
Springfield Local Schools Board of Education unanimously agreed with Superintendent Matt Geha's recommendation to transition to hybrid learning during a meeting on Sept. 22.
There will be no in-person Monday classes and the hybrid model will alternate by last names and days.
Unless otherwise notified, students with last names beginning with "A" through "L" will return on Sept. 29, while students with names "M" through "Z" will return on Sept. 30, alternating in-person and remote learning attendance.
The superintendent says there is a lot that goes into considering a change of instruction. He still has concerns as they prepare to have more people inside buildings, but feels the county and district are in a good place to make the move.
"I'm confident we can open up in our hybrid model, but we will still have to monitor attendance and staffing for the classrooms, for transportation, custodial, secretarial, administration and obviously teaching staff," Geha said.
The district began under a fully remote model on Aug. 31 and has been monitoring the effects of it.
Geha says he's heard a lot of positives from virtual learning, but also hears about many struggles.
"Our goal has been to keep as consistent as possible in an environment that's not very consistent. Things change all the time," Geha said. "We've been trying to work hard to provide consistency to our students, to our parents and to our teachers."
School officials agreed to the hybrid learning model following guidance from the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department.
Geha says they will be monitoring the hybrid plan all the way through October, before making a decision to evaluate staying in the plan.
Springfield's website says more information will be released on Wednesday, Sept. 23 from the district and building principals.
More information on Springfield's COVID-19 safety guidelines can be found here.