LEWISTON, Maine — The Lewiston School Committee voted Monday in favor 5-4 of students returning to school under a hybrid model on September 14.
The hybrid model consists of students being in the building two days a week, and the rest of the week learning from home. The committee also voted to reevaluate the plan every two weeks.
Parents are also given the choice to complete remote learning.
Members also voted to push back the start date of school to September 14.
Lewiston School Committee member Ryan Donovan says students in the district will be broken up into four cohorts.
Cohort A will have students learning in person Monday and Tuesday, while learning remotely Wednesday through Friday.
Cohort B will have students taking classes remotely Monday through Wednesday, and learning in person Thursday and Friday.
Cohort C will be for students and families opting to learn entirely remotely.
And lastly cohort D will have students in the building Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. This will be for students under special circumstances, and additional learning needs.
No students will be in school buildings Wednesday. Staff will use that day to give classrooms and school facilities a deep cleaning.
Some committee members said there are still a lot of unanswered questions.
The Lewiston Education Association said it stands behind a hybrid plan, it just wants more detail on how students and staff will stay safe.