The Carson City School Board is holding a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday to discuss and take possible action on reopening schools to all pre-kindergarten to 12th grade students to attend school in-person five days per week Monday through Friday for the rest of the 2020-21 school year effective May 3.
Carson City schools at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year in August began operating on a full-remote or hybrid model basis, with two separate cohorts spending two days on campus and three days at home. Pre-K through eighth grade students gradually have been transitioned this semester to in-person, on-campus instruction four days a week; however, high school students now are at a critical point in the school year for grade advancements and graduation, district spokesman Dan Davis said Wednesday.
“With Gov. Sisolak’s recent announcement of returning the decision-making authority back to local school districts May 1, 2021, and with the new state emergency directives no longer requiring social distancing in schools, we felt it necessary to hold a special meeting to discuss further the opportunity to possibly bringing all pre-K through 12th grade students back on campus for in-person instruction, five-days-a-week, Monday through Friday, starting as early as May 3, 2021,” said Joe Cacioppo, school board president. “Of course, nothing is set in stone, but this is an agenda item that will allow discussion amongst the trustees, with input from staff and the public, prior to considering any action.”
Based on public comment during school board meetings, families throughout the year have varied on the approach to these methods, with some expressing they prefer their children to return to regular classroom instruction five days a week for optimal academic success and others expressing it has been safer to have their children at home as COVID-19 has lingered.
Additionally, district staff members also have said they felt it would be better to have students return to the classroom and have shared how they’ve adapted to the social distancing requirements when they have had students in the classroom on their assigned days.
The meeting will take place in the Robert Crowell Board Room in the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St. However, the public is encouraged to participate remotely due to limited seating capacity by going to www.carsoncityschools.com, then clicking on “School Board,” “Join School Board Meeting” and choosing the options for virtual and telephonic participating.
Public comments will be accepted in person, subject to the governor’s emergency directives, through telephonic participation or through virtual participation via email at publiccomment@carson.k12.nv.us.
