AACPS Works Toward Hybrid System; Here Are The Remaining Kinks

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Anne Arundel County Public Schools has clearance from the state to start hybrid learning. Despite this permission, school officials remain concerned about the county's coronavirus outbreak.

AACPCS Superintendent George Arlotto and Anne Arundel County Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman published a joint letter Friday, updating the community on the current complications they face. The officials say they are building a hybrid system. Recent guidance from Gov. Larry Hogan has them in a bind, however.

Thursday afternoon, state leaders recommended that counties track their positivity rate and new infections-per-capita to determine whether they can safely reopen schools. They say jurisdictions should aim to keep their seven-day positivity rate below 5 percent. Hogan urges counties to consider a hybrid schooling system when they meet this threshold.

State officials also advise districts to shoot for a weekly average of less than five new coronavirus cases-per-day per 100,000 people. Public schools may only open for expanded in-person instruction when they reach this goal.

Anne Arundel County's most recent data clock the positivity rate at 3.19 percent, which is .13 percent less than the statewide clip. That qualifies the county as a hybrid learning candidate.

The jurisdiction has been under the 5 percent benchmark since June 22. The local positivity rate topped out at 28.24 percent on April 16.

While the county meets the percent positive guideline, it does not meet the new infections-per-capita benchmark. Over the past week, Anne Arundel County has averaged 8.11 new cases-per-day per 100,000 residents.

The county must average less than 28.96 new coronavirus infections-per-day over a rolling week to meet the state's per-capita suggestion. Anne Arundel County has averaged 47 new cases-per-day during the last seven days.

This combination of statistics leaves AACPS caught between state guidance to partially reopen and health officer recommendations to proceed with caution. Nonetheless, the school system, Department of Health and county executive are ironing out these kinks in their hybrid plan.

When schools reopen, counties must enforce a universal mask policy and maintain social distancing. This presents logistical challenges, especially with bussing.

"How do we transport students to and from schools while adhering to the physical distancing guidelines provided by the Governor?" Arlotto and Kalyanaraman questioned in their statement. "Further, do we give families the choice of hybrid or all virtual for their students? How do we proceed if not all teachers are willing to return? What thresholds and protocols must we put in place with regard to closing a school if there are positive cases?

The county has the fifth most coronavirus infections in the state, with 8,190. The virus has killed 223 county residents.

Anne Arundel's coronavirus-related hospitalizations have slowed as of late. The virus had 22 Anne Arundel County residents in the hospital on Wednesday. That is the lowest since April 3 when 21 locals were hospitalized. Thursday saw 27 hospitalizations.

Fewer than 50 coronavirus patients have been in the hospital at a time since June 14. The county's recent high of 49 hospitalizations came on July 24. More than 170 people were hospitalized in Anne Arundel County on the pandemic's April 21 peak.

"We fully realize that there are many parents who want their students back in school buildings full-time as quickly as possible," Arlotto and Kalyanaraman said. "So do we, and we are tirelessly working toward that end so that we can resume the instructional experience to which all of our students, families, and employees have long been accustomed."

Students in special education, Center for Applied Technology and English language programs will have hybrid instruction this fall. All other students in grades one through 12 start online classes on Sept. 8. Pre-K and kindergarten classes have staggered virtual start dates specific to each school.

AACPS previously committed to virtual classes through the end of the semester. Arlotto and Kalyanaraman say they "will communicate opening dates as soon as we have worked out the many logistical aspects involved."

County Executive Steuart Pittman also chimed in Thursday afternoon. He says he is committed to returning students to the classroom as soon as possible, but he still isn't comfortable with the county's metrics.

"I understand that sticking to the science and complying with the CDC, state, and county health recommendations is unpopular with many constituents," Pittman said. "But if we can prevent the continued spread of the disease, and get our numbers low enough to get our kids back to school, I am glad to take the heat."

Patch Editor Elizabeth Janney contributed reporting to this article.

RELATED:

• AACPS Acts 'Aggressively But Prudently,' Remains Online This Fall
• Maryland Schools May Begin Safely Reopening: Governor Hogan
• County's Nonpublic Schools Urged To Remain Online: Health Officer
• Maryland BOE Reaches Decision on Fall Classes
• Classes Will Be Online This Fall, Anne Arundel Schools Say
• School Year Should Start Online: Anne Arundel Teachers Union
• It's Unsafe To Return To School This Fall, Maryland Teachers Say
• Anne Arundel Schools Inch Closer To Plan For Fall Classes
• Superintendent George Arlotto removes Three Additional Items From reopening Consideration

Have a story idea? Please contact me at jacob.baumgart@patch.com with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County and Prince George's County news.