RACINE -- The Racine Unified School District (RUSD) announced on Friday, July 24 that its students will begin the 2020-2021 school year with remote learning in all grades. This model will continue through the first quarter which ends Nov. 6. The District will share plans for second-quarter no later than Oct. 19.
A news release says an RUSD Re-Entry Planning Team made up of more than 150 District administrators, teachers, community members and parents, has been planning for a safe return to school since May. The release says the team has worked to put together a plan that meets the academic and social/emotional needs of our students while keeping everyone safe. The school district has also received input from thousands of parents and guardians, staff, and community members and worked with local health departments to make informed and data-driven decisions to develop a plan for returning to school this fall.
Superintendent Dr. Eric Gallien issued the following statement:
Student Learning Schedule
Racine's North Beach
At Racine's North Beach, summer is in full swing.
"It's a beautiful day," Rachel Wells said.
But come fall, kids will be putting down the pales and picking up the pencils for the start of school.
Kaleah Williams
"I think I'm going towards engineering," Kaleah Williams said.
This year, the first day of school will look different for students like Kaleah Williams.
The Racine Unified School District announced Friday it will begin the school year with 100 percent remote learning for students in all grades.
"I'd rather have virtual learning than have to be in class, wearing a mask and not knowing if I'm safe or not," Williams said.
A decision the district says was not made lightly.
Rachel Wells
"We checked all the time with Unified to see what they were going to do because we knew it was up in the air for a while," Wells said.
When the school year begins, students will follow a defined schedule and every student will receive a device remote learning.
"I'm still getting the same education and stuff. I don't think I'm missing out," Williams said.
While students will be home, teachers and school staff will report to work and teach from their classrooms.
"I don't think it matters where they are if we're able to communicate," she said.
The school district says the remote learning model will continue through the first quarter and will share plans for the second quarter no later than October 19th.
"I know there's a lot of parents out there that have to work and are worried about childcare. Hopefully, they'll be able to find somebody they can trust that can help with the process," Wells said.
The school district says details about instruction will be provided to parents in the coming weeks.