Petaluma City Schools Sets Reopening Dates For Hybrid Learning

PETALUMA, CA —Petaluma City Schools District is planning for a post-pandemic full return of students to in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year. The first day of school for year-round sites is set for July 22, while the first day for traditional schools is slated for Aug. 17.

Until then, the school board approved a resolution Feb. 23 that gives all students in Transitional Kindergarten-6th grade the opportunity to begin hybrid instruction April 12, and all students in grades 7th-12th the opportunity to begin hybrid instruction April 19.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, March 4, the district is holding a general question and answer session live on Zoom for all families in the district. A recording of the event will be posted to the COVID-19 Hub and Hybrid Learning sections of the district's website.

The district surveyed TK-6 families and based on the results, anticipates that 75 percent of students will attend hybrid instruction while 25 percent will stay home and finish the year in distance learning. For elementary hybrid instruction, students attend school for 2.5 hours a day, four days a week, in morning and afternoon cohorts.

Parents of students in grades 7-12, and 6th grade at Mary Collins, are asked to complete a survey about whether they prefer to remain in distance learning for the remainder of this school year or return to campus for hybrid instruction starting April 19.

Specifics about the Secondary Hybrid Learning program will be provided by the district in a webinar from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 3. The district will present the secondary hybrid schedule and describe what school will be like.

The district provided a link to access the Secondary Hybrid Instruction Parent Webinar on Zoom and will post a recording of the webinar to the district's website.

Immediately following Wednesday's webinar, all secondary families will receive a survey to be completed and returned by Friday, March 12, for each secondary student in their family, the district said.

"We hope you will be able to either participate in or review this recorded event so you can make the best decision for your student," district officials said. "Once survey results are compiled, District staff will work with each secondary site to determine student schedules. Once schedules are completed, your school site will contact you directly with an updated schedule."