Revised Hybrid Plan Leaves Some Dissatisfied

RMHS is set to institute hybrid school at the end of this October and it is clear that many are dissatisfied with the upcoming plan for hybrid learning. 

RMHS is one of the only nearby public schools that is yet to return to in-person/hybrid schooling. Already being late to the party, there is some controversy regarding the plans to return to in-person schooling. According to the online assembly hosted by Assistant Principals Theriault and Murray on September 24th, the school would be starting in-person/hybrid schooling on October 26th. The assembly also included an in-person schedule consisting of four 80 minute blocks per day (ABCD/Flex+EFG), four days a week. Lunch is to be incorporated into C block on day 1 and F block on day 2. The schedule also showed that passing periods were to be extended to 8 minutes to allow students time to go outside and take a mask break. Finally, students were to be divided into groups by grade level. Grades 9 and 10 come in one week while 11 and 12 go in the other. 

Since then, however, plans for hybrid schooling have changed. Now all students are to be divided into four groups based on last name. Each group will go into school 2 times every other week. The block schedule has not changed except for the reduction of days per week. According to Mr. Skehan, a math teacher at RMHS, ”The plan was originally 50% capacity based on grade level, but they had to change that based on staffing issues.” This means that only 25% of students will be in RMHS at any given time, rather than the previously planned 50%.

All of the students interviewed so far have voiced their disagreement with the current plans. “We would only go in every 2 weeks… which is stupid and a waste of time. If I’m gonna go in and risk getting sick to go in for 2 days or 1 day it’s not worth it at all, I’d rather just have it all online.” says Joe Faulker, a senior at RMHS. Seniors Noah Sout and Mike DiPetrio agree with Faulkner, saying that they’d rather have school completely online than go in for such a small amount of time. Billy Beneke, also a senior at RMHS, agrees that the new plan is unfavorable, but for different reasons. Beneke says that the new plan is unfavorable because he’s unable to be with his friends if groups are sorted by last name. Even some faculty at RMHS are dissatisfied with the hybrid schooling plans.  Skehan says,“I don’t think students are in the building enough. I would like to see [the school at] 50% capacity instead of 25% capacity.”

Overall, the feedback for the school’s current in-person/hybrid schooling plans are negative.  Some may like the conservative nature of the hybrid plan for its safety, but many are dissatisfied with the relatively small amount of time students will have in school.