The school year is underway in Pleasantville, and the district is taking a different approach to the start of school than many others in the area. The district is using a hybrid model, splitting the student body on an alternating basis. Superintendent Tony Aylsworth explains what the district is doing, and says that the goal is to be back to 100 percent in school as quickly as possible.

“Our target is to safely get students back here five days a week just as quick as we can, but we took a little different approach to this. We’ve started off with a hybrid model where there’s two groups of students. We’ve split up all the grade levels. Basically 50 percent of kids are on campus one day, and then the other 50 percent of kids come to campus the next day. That’s supplemented with some virtual learning opportunities on the days kids aren’t on campus. Our plan is to run that up through September 11th and really keep tabs on the data, the metrics, the safety and health numbers here in Marion County, and also the trends we’re seeing here specifically to Pleasantville Schools.”

The district is split into “Hybrid A” and “Hybrid B” groups. The A group is in school Monday and Tuesday this week, while the B group is in school Wednesday and Thursday. According to the school calendar, all students will be on campus on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The district started school on August 27th.