Decorah School Superintendent Mark Lane says the district picked a hybrid learning model this fall with an eye toward long-term success

The Decorah School Board holds a special meeting Monday to approve plans for reopening schools this fall.

School administrators have studied three options: having all learning take place on-site at the school district's buildings; having all learning take place on-line with virtual classes; or having a hybrid model with a 50/50 split of both options.  The Decorah School Board will vote Monday night on a proposal to use the hybrid plan.

Decorah School Superintendent Mark Lane told an on-line forum that one of the reasons the hybrid model is being recommended is that the school district's special education classes serve students from many other school districts in NE Iowa, meaning Decorah Schools serves people living in a large area of the state.

Lane says that fact has led school administrators to recommend the hybrid model, which combines in-person and online teaching.  "It's my opinion that we have a deep responsibility back to our community to do what we're doing successfully," he says.

Lane says that means a shift in perspective: "A short-term win about having every student back in school the very first week--if that leads to a necessity to shut down or to quarantine a large group of people a few weeks later--that's not long-term success."