BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
Los Alamos Public Schools teachers listed hundreds of questions as part of their responses to a district-wide survey prepared and distributed by parents concerning the hybrid model chosen by LAPS Board members for the return to school. The questions and concerns address everything from how a teacher can teach in the classroom and online simultaneously, the lack of training for teaching with the hybrid model, the lack of substitutes, the protocol for cleaning and sanitizing facilities to when and how teachers can have bathroom breaks during the day.
The full survey and ongoing results may be reviewed here: https://sites.google.com/view/lapsstaffsurvey/home?authuser=0
Statistics revealed in the survey, which remains live, indicated that 50 percent of LAPS staff who responded favor remote instruction only until students can be back in schools five days a week. Around 23 percent support either hybrid as a middle step but waiting until the second semester, or hybrid as a middle step starting Sept. 21.
Some 68 percent indicated that they believe students would get more time and attention each week with the remote option and some 62 percent believe students would learn more material and achieve more standards this year with the remote option. Some 73.7 percent felt the remote option would be more sustainable and less stressful to maintain.
The majority of those who responded do not believe the district will have clear safety procedures and protocols in place before the hybrid option begins Sept. 21. The majority of staff also believe that their questions about the hybrid model will not have been answered before the scheduled start Sept. 21.
A virtual regular meeting of the School Board is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8. The agenda notes the following link and passcode to attend the meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/5056632222?pwd=bFdiMWlqVnRYRW9qVGdOQ2lWUnpkUT09
Passcode: lapsjoin
The Zoom app is required for connecting from a smartphone or tablet. It is recommended when joining from a computer. Attendees can also dial in by phone using the following information:
Dial in: 1-346-248-7799
Meeting ID: 505 663 2222
Passcode: lapsjoin
The agenda notes that public comments during the meeting are to be sent to public.comments@laschools.net