BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Los Alamos High School and Middle Schools are conducting a survey to determine the number of parents who are interested in having their students return to campus and how soon.

In an email accompanying the survey, a “realistic vision” of the Remote+ model for in-person learning is included.

Remote learning will continue for all students in all classes in the mornings on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Participation in Remote+ in the afternoon is optional but students who register will be expected to attend.

The email notes that in-person learning opportunities will give extra opportunities for students to reinforce the learning done during morning Remote instruction.

“This time will focus on review, practice, re-teaching, and reinforcing concepts covered in morning Remote instruction. In-person learning would be for two hours in the afternoon on Monday, Tuesday, (Green Cohort) or Thursday and Friday (Gold Cohort). Classes will be scheduled by period on specific afternoons for each cohort. Participation in clubs, activities and athletics is open to all students, regardless of their attendance in Remote+ in-person learning,” the email states.

It tells parents that the safety of the school community is critical.

“All of the most up-to-date science on COVID-safe practices will be followed in our school, including:

• All students and staff will complete COVID screening by using the Eagle Intelligent Health app before leaving home.
  
  
• Everyone on site will wear an approved mask at all times (two layer fabric mask, or medical mask).
  
  
• Students and staff will maintain 6-foot distance from other students and staff.
  
  
• Students will need to eat before or after coming to campus, and bring refillable water bottles.
  
  
• Students and staff must quarantine for 14 days if they have traveled out of state, had out of state visitors, or have been a close contact of someone who has tested positive.
  
  
• Students will have seating charts in class to ensure social distancing requirements and limit student interactions.
  
  
• The student body is divided into two cohorts, which reduces the maximum number of students in class to 1/2 of the normal size.
  
  
• Under current state guidance, vocal and wind instrument practice and performances are not allowed. Percussion and strings are allowed.

As part of the survey, parents are asked to indicate the subjects for which their student would benefit most from having in-person time with their teacher. They are also asked from their perspective as a parent what the top two benefits of Remote+ learning in the afternoon would be for their student. A list of COVID-safe practices is included and parents are asked which items on the list would be the most challenging for their student.

Another question notes that Remote+ in-person learning will look different from school in pre-COVID days and asks now that parents know the format and safety procedures of Remote+, whether or not their student will attend. Parents are also asked to identify how their student would travel to school.

LAPS Supt. Kurt Steinhaus said Thursday morning that he values the opinions of staff, students and parents, and that the survey is one of a multi-pronged approach to seek input.

“We are working to make it easy to complete the survey with the expectation of a high response rate,” he said.

Other options for providing feedback are to send a message to public.comments@laschools.net, participate in the School Board meeting on Tuesday Feb 9, or send him an email at k.steinhaus@laschools.net Steinhaus said.

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