The Hamilton Southeastern School Board voted 4-3 Thursday night to move grades 5-12 to a 50 percent hybrid method, which means students will be in the classroom 50 percent of the time over a two-week period. This goes into effect Thursday, Sept. 17.
Sylvia Shepler, Amanda Shera, Brad Boyer and Clint Wilson voted yes. Michelle Fullhart, Janet Pritchett and Julie Chambers voted no.
Board President Michelle Fullhart says she is in favor of moving students back into classrooms, but voted no because she wanted a Sept. 14 start date for the 50 percent hybrid system for in-person classes.
Students up to grade 4 are scheduled to begin a similar program Sept. 8.
An amendment to start school Monday, Sept. 21, was not approved by the board.
Administrators told board members there are 34 permanent substitute teachers on staff. A total of 240 of the 297 regular subs answered a survey, with 56 percent saying they want to wait before returning to the classroom. Some regular substitute teachers told the school district they would work, but no more than one to two days a week during the current pandemic.
The board was told there would be enough bus drivers to transport students, but staffing is very tight.