TCS Moves To Four-Day School Week For In-Person Learning

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — Tuscaloosa City Schools has made another change to its approach to returning full-time to the class room, with the system announcing Friday it will return to in-person instruction starting Oct. 19, for all students who did not choose the full year virtual option. In its latest plan, TCS says it will enact a four-day week for in-person instruction, where Fridays will be devoted to asynchronous virtual learning, beginning Oct. 23.

As of Friday, TCS reported 22 active cases among its more than 10,000 students, with 216 currently in quarantine due to potential contact.

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The changes also come a day after it was announced that TCS Superintendent Mike Daria had tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday. As Patch previously reported, Daria and his family are quarantining at home and the superintendent reported only mild symptoms.

With the new approach to school days, the system says schools will use the time to allow for deeper cleaning of buildings to protect the safety of students and staff. The system also said the time will create the opportunity for teachers to plan and collaborate for effective teaching practices as well as connect with families on an as-needed basis.

Daria said in a press release Friday that this decision will be revisited for the second semester.

"The demand this is placing on our educators is enormous," he said. "We are doing this to allow time for their planning and preparation. We worry that the demands on them will not be sustainable as they work to balance in-person teaching, virtual, and hybrid. This day is for them to work on planning so they can be sure to provide high-quality instruction when they are with your children."

This move was supported by not only TCS principals, but also the Board of Education which provided the superintendent the authority to set the educational model.

City Board of Education Chair Eric Wilson said the board promised to be flexible during the pandemic, look out for the safety of all and listen to the needs of our educators.

"By moving to a four-day school week we feel that we have checked each of those boxes,” he said.

Daria then said while the change is not ideal, it was necessary.

"While I recognize a shift at this date does pose an inconvenience to families," he said. " We must balance the well-being of our staff as we deliver instruction during a pandemic."