PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After asking schools to go all remote in December, Gov. John Carney and state officials are urging them to bring back hybrid learning starting Monday.
Carney calls schools “among the safest in our community.” He said there hasn’t yet been any spread in the school system.
“And given the incredibly important role of educating and task of educating particularly our youngest children, those learning to read, those with special educational challenges,” he added, “we really need to lean into this effort to get as many children in front of teachers and classrooms.”
State Education Secretary Susan Bunting spent part of her holiday season meeting with schools to figure out how to make hybrid learning work.
She spoke with all 19 districts and charter schools, answering questions and listening to their concerns.
“Recognizing we can best address students’ needs if they are with us at least part of the time,” she said.
One way to do that is to make sure there are no staff shortages.
“We’re actually doing some publicizing on our ‘Join Delaware’ website to encourage people to think about substituting, even if they’ve never done so before,” Bunting said. “And maybe more of our people who in the past have substituted, but are a little hesitant this year, will feel more confident coming back.”
A quarter of Delaware’s teachers get tested each week, meaning every teacher gets tested once a month.
Bunting said schools are also on board with antigen tests for students.
“It gives you a very quick response and we can take steps for people who are asymptomatic and we need to know that as well,” she elaborated.
There’s also now a more school-focused dashboard on Delaware’s state homepage that tracks cases among staff and students.