Public and private schools nationwide are gearing up for an unprecedented back-to-school season in the coming weeks. Here’s a brief look at what five Chippewa Valley school districts have planned for a school year in the shadow of COVID-19.

EAU CLAIRE

Eau Claire school district students who didn’t sign up for 100% virtual education will be sorted into one of two cohorts. (Families are expected to receive information about their cohorts the week of Aug. 17.) Students in Cohort A will receive in-person instruction Mondays and Tuesdays, while students in Cohort B will get the same curriculum Thursdays and Fridays. Students will study virtually the other three days of the week. The exception will be first- and second-graders, who will be in school in person each weekday except Wednesday. For the latest on the district’s COVID-19 response, follow this link.

MENOMONIE

The Menomonie school board has opted to begin the school year with in-person learning, adopting a plan Aug. 10 that calls for schools to operate at full capacity when the school year begins Sept. 1. The district says that “risk management strategies (will be) in place to address cleaning, student and staff hygiene, and infection control and mitigation.” Families who wished also had the option of signing their children up for full-time virtual school. Go here for details on the Menomonie district’s reopening plans.

CHIPPEWA FALLS

The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District has adopted a schedule of fully in-person learning five days a week for the coming semester, which begins Sept. 1. Fully virtual learning from home is also an option, but the deadline to register students was Aug. 14. The district describes its lengthy back-to-school plan as “flexible with the ability to pivot when and where necessary given that circumstances change rapidly.” Go here for the district’s COVID-19 page and here for a detailed back-to-school document (in Google Doc form).

ALTOONA

Altoona school district students who haven’t already signed up for 100% virtual schooling will be educated under a hybrid model: Depending on their grade level, students will spend some days at school and others at home, learning virtually. Specifically, children in 4K through fifth grade will be in school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and will learn virtually on Wednesdays. Those in grades six through 12 will be split into two groups, with some attending in person on Mondays and Tuesdays and the rest attending Thursdays and Fridays; education for both groups will be virtual on Wednesdays. You can read the “Railroad Return to School Update” here.

REGIS CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Eau Claire-based Regis Catholic Schools plans to hold in-person instruction five days a week this fall. Enrollment caps have been placed on each school and grade level to ensure physical distancing recommendations can be followed. In accordance with the statewide order by Gov. Tony Evers, all students and staff will wear face coverings indoors and in enclosed spaces. Click here for the Regis plan for the school year.