MPS virtual learning questions remain

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Public Schools has come up with a plan for the return of in-person learning for students coming fall.

The school board has come up with a list of guidelines it wants MPS to follow after approving the return plan Tuesday, June 1. The plan also includes a new stand-alone virtual learning option. 

"We are confident in our recommendation to return to full in-person learning and our ability to keep our staff and students safe," said Dr. Keith Posley, MPS superintendent.

A return to in-person instruction five days a week means some changes for students and staff.

"Masks will be required for all students, teachers and staff throughout the school," Carletta Nolan, MPS Central Region superintendent, said.

Masks will also be required on buses. Masks will not be required when students are eating or drinking or when they are outdoors. Students will also be required to socially distance at least three feet, and plexiglass barriers will remain in classrooms.

What's next for virtual learning?

During the school board meeting, members questioned virtual learning.

"If we are offering that virtual option again, I think we need to thoroughly look through what does that look like for our students, our families and absolutely for our staff," said Sequanna Taylor, MPS board member.

MPS said a standalone virtual learning option is in the works, but enrollment will be limited.

"We don’t have the staffing capacity to be able to spread ourselves, especially if there’s no concurrent teaching to be able to do that," said Posley.

The school board asked virtual and in-person teachers remain separate. Parents wanting virtual learning for their children have until June 21 to register.

The school board approved in-person learning with nine parameters for the administration to follow:

1. No concurrent teaching. Virtual and in-person teaching is asked to be separate. 
2. An option for students to have full participation in fall sports and other extra curricular activities.
3. Professional development for staff and culturally relevant anti-racist/socially emotional teaching strategies and school-based sharing and planning on socially emotional learning and practices.
4. Adherence to CDC recommendations such as the three foot distancing between students and no mask requirement when students are outside with the understanding that such recommendations might change based on local and CDC guidelines.
5. Continuation and expansion of efforts with community partners to encourage vaccination of eligible students, staff and families.
6. Return to school district-wide social media launch to include both print and person-to-person marketing campaigns.
7. Creation of a standalone K-12 virtual option for families with a limited enrollment that requires proactive registration by June 21, 2021 to allow for informed decision-making relative to the overall return to school planning.
8. Improving the public relations and marketing efforts plan.
9. The continuation of the "Road to Readiness" work group meetings and expansion of the work groups when necessary to get additional professional advice.

MPS says full in-person learning will begin Aug. 16 for early start while traditional start is set for Sept. 2.

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