Four-day, in-person learning for kindergarten through grade 5 was put on pause, as school committee members agreed Tuesday to wait until January 4 before transitioning from the current hybrid system to four days of classroom school.

“We all know cases are certainly on the rise in Rhode Island,” said Superintendent Philip Thornton during Tuesday night’s school committee meeting. “We’re also in the midst of planning to get to a goal of being back in school four days a week, and at least in hybrid for middle and high [school].”

Thornton proposed a return date of January 4th for both elementary and secondary, where kindergarten to grade 5 would attend 4-day in-person learning, and grades 6 to 12 would start a hybrid learning plan. Thornton proposed to spend the rest of December focused on installing air purifiers in secondary classrooms, “working towards a model of middle school and high school hybrid learning.”

Darlene Netcoh, president of the Warwick Teacher’s Union, said she and fellow teachers are “relieved” at the decision to wait until January to reassess 4-day, in-person learning. “If the Governor is closing churches and gyms and restaurants, it is silly to think there is no exposure when teachers and students are together all day in the classroom.” Netcoh said she understands the school department is taking precautions to learning safely, but fears that the lack of student testing, along with slow contact tracing from the Department of Health, is risky for teachers. “We’ve had students pass COVID on to teachers before and it’ll happen again.”

Lynn Dambruch, Assistant Superintendent, also spoke to the 4-day, in-person learning plan, as she shared the results of recent surveys sent out to elementary parents and guardians. The surveys asked families their learning preferences for 4-day distance learning or 4-day in-person learning.

“The choice they make will be a commitment for the entire second trimester,” said Dambruch. 71 percent of families are currently opting for 4-day, in-person learning, where 29 percent of families are opting for 4-day distance learning.

Additionally, principals have shared with families each school’s reopening plan, according to Dambruch. “Principals have reviewed their plans to reflect students attending school four days a week.”

Dambruch also mentioned that the Warwick School Department is still experiencing a staffing shortage of substitute teachers and building aides. Kim Ruggeri, HR Manager, did not comment when asked about specific numbers of staff still needed.

William McCaffrey, Director of Secondary Education, spoke to the survey sent out to secondary parents and guardians on Monday, Nov. 30.“The survey looked at levels of interest in distance learning, hybrid, or a 4-day, in-person return.”

The survey would also help administrators understand reopening operations like busing, substitute teachers, and PPE.

There were no accurate results of the secondary survey at the time of publication, since the survey closes on Friday, Dec. 4. McCaffrey said he would be able to provide the information and results at the next school committee meeting on Dec. 8. “Hopefully, with the data we can properly plan for a safe return sometime in January, whether it’s two days or four days, or whether things accelerate and we stay in distance learning, we can properly plan.”

While these surveys provide members of the school department with valuable information, members of the school committee were “blindsided” and unaware of what was being sent to families, said Vice Chair Judith Cobden. Kyle Adams and Nathaniel Cornell also voiced their concerns, as they were not alerted to the new surveys.

“We need to take a vote that all surveys sent out, go to the school committee,” said Cornell.

“I would appreciate getting the survey, at the same time at least. I haven’t gotten them before, although I think I requested them. I would like to know what the questions are before getting concerns from constituents,” said Adams.

The next school committee meeting is on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7:00 p.m.