CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — The Douglas County School District will bring secondary students back to in-person classes beginning next week, officials announced Wednesday.
The district's in-person/hybrid "2.0" plan will include different cohorts of middle and high school students attending in-person class on different days, while alternating with remote learning on other days of the week.
Students assigned to Cohort A will attend in-person classes on Mondays and Wednesday, while Cohort B students attend in-person classes on Tuesday and Thursdays. All students will have remote classes on Friday.
The district is implementing some changes to the hybrid model from the plan in the fall, before the entire district went to remote learning. This time around, the district wants to incorporate more "live" learning for remote classes, more regular access between students and teachers and designated time to address students' wellbeing and mental health.
Students who opted into fully-remote learning this school year will continue with that plan.
One change for the hybrid model: The district will return to normal capacity on school buses, with up to 2-3 students per seat, if necessary. Bus service will only be available to students who live more than three miles from their school.
"Transitioning to normal capacity on buses is possible as a result of continued dialogue with local and state health authorities, provides access to In-Person/Hybrid 2.0 learning for more students, and decreases traffic congestion and wait time at schools," district officials said in a letter. "Should a COVID exposure occur on a DCSD school bus, quarantines will be managed via the use of seating charts."