New Hybrid Schedule

(This message was sent to all Saline Area Schools families on 9/22)

SAS Community,

We have been closely monitoring a number of COVID-19 community metrics as it relates to our local conditions for a safe return to in-person learning. The latest Washtenaw County metrics put us in a position to begin hybrid in-person instruction on our originally targeted date of September 28th, 2020. However, the schedule has changed slightly. Please read through the message below. 

Covid-19 Health Committee

In making this decision, we worked with representatives from our staff groups, along with Karan Hervey, our district nurse. We used the following metric guides (as suggested by top public health officials across Washtenaw County) to help us make this determination:

% of positive tests over the last 7 days | Number of cases per 100,000 residents | % increase or decrease in total cases over last 7 days | Anecdotal evidence of general compliance

In referring to Governor Whitmer’s Roadmap, we are currently in Phase 4 in Washtenaw County (see page 21). In order to prepare for hybrid/in-person instruction, SAS has been working diligently to: 

Clean Buildings	Prepare PPE for Staff	Install Traffic Flow Signs	Plan Health Procedures
Prepare Food Service	Organize Bus Fleet	Staff Prof. Development	Determine Class Rosters

Timeline of Upcoming Events

• September 28: SAS begins hybrid/in-person instruction for a two week span
• Week of September 28th: Monitor the students/staff and implementation of hybrid model
• October 5: Covid-19 Health Committee reviews implementation plan
• Week of October 5th: Determine next steps and communicate to SAS community 

New Hybrid Schedule 

Over the course of these last few weeks of virtual learning and with the anticipation of a return to hybrid/in-person, we are recognizing the need to adjust our hybrid schedule to better meet the academic needs of our students. Please review the new schedule below: 

As noted, students assigned to “BLUE” will be in-person Mondays and Wednesdays. Students assigned to “GOLD” will be in-person Tuesdays and Thursdays. All students will be remote on Fridays (and provided instruction virtually). 

We recognize that making this change to the New Hybrid Schedule may present a hardship for some families as it relates to childcare and other scheduling issues. We apologize for this, yet we are realizing that the Pandemic continues to present many challenges to the school district as a whole which are requiring us to adjust and become more flexible through the process.

School is Different Now

As much as we have tried to create a schedule for teaching and learning that replicates what students, parents and teachers have grown accustomed to over the years, school is different now. We must be creative as we develop flexible instructional approaches that will still allow our students to get a strong education.

Our priority is to keep our students and staff safe. Additionally, we want to develop the best possible instructional models given the circumstances. We are confident that with this instructional plan, we will be doing just that, providing a safe learning environment, allowing families/students options for their instructional model and providing the proper time and support to our teaching staff to deliver quality instruction.

Next Steps

For those students (families) who are planning to return to hybrid/in-person instruction next week, you will be receiving back-to-school instructional information from your building principal later this week that outlines the important safety procedures to follow. For those students staying on an all virtual instructional model, you will receive continued instructional support from your current teachers.

As mentioned, please anticipate another update during the week of October 5th, 2020. We appreciate your outstanding support and continued flexibility.

In Partnership,

Scot A. Graden