Millard high school students will be switching to 50% online learning.
Thursday morning, Millard Public Schools announced that they are reducing the number of students attending in-person classes for the next two weeks. In a letter sent to families, Superintendent Jim Sutfin said the high schools will go to a 50% in-person attendance model August 17th through the 28th. During that time, high school students in the district will attend school every day, but will be alternating in-person and remote-learning according to a schedule determined by the last name of the student.
“I am sorry that I have to make this decision. Nobody wants our students in school at 100% more than I do,” Sutfin said in his letter. “I understand the many benefits of in-person learning and the sense of community that our high school students feel when they are together.”
The superintendent also encouraged families to wear masks to help contain community spread. “I also am extremely concerned about the current level of community spread and again ask for your help. Our students and community can slow down the spread by wearing masks outside of the home, social distancing, and avoiding large gatherings,” he said.
He also offered a plea to the community to take appropriate precautions. “The only way we can stop the disruption to your child’s education is to come together as a community to slow down the spread. If we do that, we will reduce close contact exposure at school,” he said.
The announcement followed Wednesday’s news about two cases at an elementary school in the district. MPS reported Reagan Elementary School had two confirmed cases of COVID-19, and that the school was being cleaned and sanitized “as we will always do when we receive a report of a positive case.”