SKOWHEGAN — Maine School Administrative District 54 officials presented the school’s return plan for the fall at Thursday evening’s board of directors meeting.

Superintendent Jon Moody said that while things may change, the school is giving students the option to return to school or continue remote learning using a hybrid model. The district will utilize a “soft start” model that will allow the school to facilitate the implementation of the green/yellow plans depending on county designation prior to Sept. 1.

This approach allows staff to begin school with fewer students in school facilities. It will allow increased individual attention and training for hygiene practices, technology, classroom and school routines.

The soft start will run for the first two weeks of school, from Sept. 1-11. Green plans will be fully operational on Sept. 14.

Following the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention and Maine Department of Education’s guidelines, the school has developed a Green, Yellow and Red Plan.

In the green plan all students grades pre-kindergarten through eight will meet in-person every day. At this level, the focus is on having students in groups to limit exposure and maximize social interactions. Students will have their own technology and will be able to take devices home. Classroom structure, hallway and building traffic flow, and increased education around hygiene will also be adjusted.

Students in grades nine through 12 under the green plan will meet in-person every other day, split by alphabet. This plan calls for the following:

• The introduction of a semester schedule, in which students will have four periods every day per semester.

• Somerset Career and Technical Center students will be divided so that MSAD 54 students attend the tech center only with other MSAD 54 students.

• The number of courses students and staff need to focus on at any one time will be reduced. Previously, students took eight courses, but now they will take four, which will allow remote learning to occur in a more manageable way.

• Hybrid/remote learning will be ongoing in this schedule from day one. Half the students will receive in-person instruction on one day and will connect remotely on the other day.

The yellow, or hybrid plan, offers several options:

• Students in grades nine through 12 will be in a school building every other day. Students in pre-k through eighth grades will be in school buildings daily for instruction.

• Students in grades eight through 12 will attend in-person classes every other day (split by alphabet, similar to the green plan). Students in grades pre-k through seven will be in school buildings daily for instruction.

• Students in grades seven through 12 will have in-person instruction every other day (split by alphabet). Students in grades pre-K through six will be in school buildings daily for instruction.

• Students in grades six through 12 will be in school buildings every other day (split by alphabet). Students in grades pre-K through five will be in school buildings daily for instruction.

• Students in grades five through 12 will attend in-person classes every other day (split by alphabet). Students in grades pre-K through four will be in school buildings daily for instruction.

• Students in grades four through 12 will be in school buildings every other day (split by alphabet). Students in grades pre-K through three will be in school buildings daily for instruction.

• Students in grades pre-K through 12 will be in school every-other day (split by alphabet).

An empty overflow room during a Maine School Administrative District 54 board meeting Thursday at Skowhegan Area Middle School. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

In the red plan, or remote learning plan, all students receive their education remotely. Certain students K-12 who require special programming and other students who may qualify for in-person instruction, so long as it is deemed safe by Maine CDC, will receive those opportunities.

Classroom spaces will allow students 3 feet to social distance. Adults and staff in the building must maintain 6 feet from others while in school to the greatest extent possible. Face masks and shields must be worn at all times. Frequent mask breaks will occur during the day.

Hand sanitizer stations are being installed at each classroom across the district and at every major entry point. Advanced custodial hygiene practices will be used with a focus on high-touch surfaces.

Families in the district will be asked to indicate whether or not their students will be returning to schools or participating in remote learning. This will help the district create class lists and plan accordingly. All staff members will utilize a two-way educational platform.

“It’s been six months since kids have been in school,” Moody said. “Our buildings haven’t been open. It will be a tremendous transition back.”

THE MASCOT

Moody said that by the end of next week, Aug. 15, students will be able to vote for their favorite mascot suggestion through their school-issued email accounts.

Last month, two school board subcommittees met separately and came up with a list of nine names for the district’s new mascot: Phoenix, Riverhawks, Sturgeon, Badgers, Thunder, River Drivers, Trailblazers, Fishercats and Skowhegan.

The district will send emails, make phone calls and texts, and post on the website to give students ample opportunities to weigh in. Students will have about three weeks to vote before the portal is closed and the results are sent back to the Support Services and the Education Policy Planning/Programming committees. Those panels will review the results of the students’ selections and whittle the list down to three names. That short list will then go back to the board for a final vote.

MSAD 54 serves the towns of Canaan, Cornville, Mercer, Norridgewock, Smithfield and Skowhegan.