Kankakee Times

Herscher schools are planning on extending school days to six hours starting on Jan. 5, with high school teachers beginning to simultaneously teach in-person and remote students in a couple weeks. 

School days will run from 8 a.m. to 2:05 p.m., according to the Daily Journal. Right now, school days go until 11:45 a.m. for in-person learning. Remote learning is then scheduled for 1:30-3:15 p.m. 

“What we know, at least from the committee going forward, is that we need to get our kids back into school as much as possible,” Board President Sally Sullivan said.

Students can opt in for in-person learning, but also have the option for fully remote learning. 

“I think the Jan. 5 [date] gives enough lead time, whether it’s making classroom adjustments or getting Wi-Fi to kids that don’t have it,” Board member Jason Hasting said. “Whichever side of the aisle you’re on, it’s enough time to get where we’ve got to be, because I think at some point, even to inch our way to normal [is] where we need to be.”