HSE school board votes to allow high school students to attend in-person classes

The Hamilton Southeastern Board of Trustees on Wednesday evening voted to allow high school students who opted for in-person learning to attend classes on-site Monday through Thursday. The change goes into effect on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

A survey was sent to families with students in grades 9-12 on Feb. 1 to select their preferred learning mode: In-person four days a week or 100 percent virtual to better determine school-wide attendance percentages.

As it stands currently, 46 percent of students at Fishers High School have selected to be in-person Monday through Thursday, and 54 percent at Hamilton Southeastern High School.

Students who chose to be 100 percent virtual will not be able to change learning modes until after Spring Break. This will ensure student occupancy of the building will not to exceed 50-55 percent.

In-person students may pull back to 100 percent virtual if they find they are not comfortable attending onsite.

If particular classes exceed guidelines for COVID safety, adaptations will be considered.

Following CDC guidelines will continue to be stressed as distancing will not always be possible.

Students in grades 7-8 will remain hybrid at this time. The number of in-person students currently exceeds the 50-55 percent threshold for student occupancy of the building.