MRH, Brentwood schools decide how to begin coming year

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic continuing in the area, the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District Board decided on July 23 to begin the 2020-2021 school year with full-time virtual instruction, beginning August 25. The plan is for students to transition back into the buildings when it is safe to do so.

Below is the statement from the school district.

MRH Staff, Families and Community,

Leaders of the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District believe the current scope of the COVID-19 pandemic in our area at this time will prevent us from starting the school year safely with in-person learning. When students resume learning on August 25, our District will launch the school year with full-time virtual instruction for grades K-12. No decisions have been made yet with regard to our Pre-K program in the fully-virtual setting. This decision was finalized during a Board of Education work session on Thursday, July 23.

Since mid-March, our District has had to reimagine how to provide a high quality education for all learners while maintaining safety as our top priority. Maplewood Richmond Heights School District leaders have been meeting frequently during the spring and summer to create re-entry guidance for our schools based on recommended protocols that protect the health of students, school staff and the entire community while offering an academic program that also meets the social and emotional needs of our students.

Our goal is to transition back to in-person learning for all families who choose that option as quickly and as safely as possible. That’s why we will continue to refine the “blended instruction” scenario (under which students split their weeks between actual and virtual attendance) for all cohorts, including K-6.

When the time is right to reenter our buildings, students and staff will encounter an environment featuring extensive safeguards including required masks for all staff and students in grades 3-12:

In the meantime, until reentry is possible, the District has committed to:

• Ensuring equitable learning resources by providing computers/devices for all students and Wi-Fi for those who need it.
• Improve the structure of lesson delivery and the systems to monitor student progress.

We are still on track for August 3 announcements by the individual building principals on specific operational expectations of students, teachers and support staff.

We recognize that the pandemic has created unprecedented and long-term uncertainty for all of us, but please know we are committed to providing the high-quality instruction and learning experiences you’ve come to expect.

For more information, contact MRH School District at (314) 644-4400.

Below is the MRH School Board Zoom meeting on July 23 where they came to their decision.

Brentwood School Superintendent Brian Lane said in a video that the Brentwood School District will offer two options: both in person and “distant” instruction.