MERIDIAN, Idaho — Following the West Ada School District sick-out on Oct. 20-21, former and current teachers of the district are offering encouragement to West Ada board members as they determine how students will safely receive instruction this year.
During Tuesday's board meeting, West Ada trustees were greeted with red rocks placed six feet apart.
The red rocks are painted with the word 'remote'. This action is not a critique of the school board, but a gesture of support towards the community, teachers, and board members within the district, according to Kelli Hudson, a teacher currently on sick-leave at Middleton High School.
Hudson, along with a retired West Ada teacher and board member, has painted over 1,100 rocks and will continue to paint more.
“The thing about the rocks is it lets somebody know that we are paying attention. People who feel like red equals remote are unable to go out and protest or show physical presence because it is dangerous for us to gather in large groups," Hudson said. "I mean, the Governor even reiterated that yesterday, and I think the red rocks gives people a visual that we would be there if we could."
On Tuesday, the West Ada board of trustees voted unanimously to adopt a revised reopening plan with recommendations from Idaho doctors and Central District Health.
Under this new plan, students in grades K-5 will return to the classroom for a full day Tuesday-Friday. On Mondays, students will attend in-person classes but will be released early.
Students in grades 6-12 will continue to learn remotely on Mondays. Under these new revisions, students will be broken into two teams in order to allow schools to follow distancing guidelines. Team 1 will attend in-person classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Team 2 will attend on Wednesdays and Fridays. Students will learn remotely on the days they are not in the classroom.
This new schedule will begin on Nov. 10.
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