By Shelby Connelly

Cincinnati Public schools are utilizing a new hybrid model for classes since students returned to their buildings on Oct. 12.

During the pandemic, CPS had, until mid-October, done 100% virtual learning with their students.      

Now, CPS is running on a blended model. Students physically come into class four days a week. But the capacity of students is split in half. Group A comes in on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and group B comes into the building on Thursdays and Fridays. On Mondays, everybody will be logging in virtually from home.

Teachers and staff did everything they could to get ready for students to come into the building. All students are expected to follow extra safety guidelines.

These extra safety precautions are things like wearing a mask, social distancing, eating in classrooms spaced apart, not having physical contact with others and washing their hands regularly or sanitizing them. 

I was given the opportunity to speak to one of the teachers at Oyler, Danielle Warren. I asked Ms. Warren a couple of questions and for her opinion on the new hybrid learning model.

The first question that I asked Ms. Warren was, “do you think that they did the right thing by letting children come back into the building?”

Ms. Warren said she thinks they chose the best learning model they could have chosen. She doesn’t quite know if she agrees with the timing, but thinks that they are doing what is best overall. 

I also asked her what she thought the hardest part of the learning model would be. She said that she was worried about the students only being able to come in two days a week, because it may be hard on them to not be with a teacher for two days a week and they will have to advocate for themselves.

Finally, I asked her if she could change anything about the new learning model, and what would she change, if anything. She said she would not change much, but she would change something to where students could somehow have contact or communication with the teachers on their self-directed learning days. 

Ms. Warren also mentioned that she was worried that the school or city would become a red-zone. She is worried for the health and safety that is naturally at risk for the staff and the students, but knows that the proper precautions have been taken.