School districts struggle with how to safely reopen in the fall; some lean toward hybrid model

There are issues every school superintendent is struggling with when it comes to how to safely start school again in the fall.

News 12 Staff

Jul 9, 2020, 9:50 PM

Updated 1,561 days ago

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There are issues every school superintendent is struggling with when it comes to how to safely start school again in the fall.
Most districts in Westchester and the Hudson Valley seem to be leaning toward a hybrid model of some in-class instruction with some digital learning.
However, News 12 talked to Mount Vernon Superintendent Dr. Ken Hamilton, who has a large percentage of students who don't have access to laptops or internet service. He says many have parents who have to work and can't stay home.
There are other parents who don't feel comfortable sending their kids to school. 
"We have to make sure we include a training component to our reopening plan for parents that decide to keep their kids home. We'll have some resources and be able to access a module for home schooling because if we don't do that, we are indirectly perpetuating gaps that already exist," said Dr. Hamilton.
The superintendent also said the district is staring down a potential $20 million cut in state aid, plus President Donald Trump’s threat of a cut in federal aid, which is another 8% of his budget.