Pleasanton Unified School District is set to debate "expanding learning opportunities" for middle and high school students enrolled in the hybrid instruction program during a special Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, starting 5:30 p.m.

With updated guidance allowing 3-foot social distancing, staff has recommended combining groups from the hybrid program's morning and afternoon sessions so both preschool and secondary school students attend classes in person four days a week.

"It is our plan to expand the secondary hybrid schedule to combine groups A and B and bring hybrid learners to campus four days per week," Superintendent David Haglund said in a statement to PUSD families on Sunday.

The plan would put PUSD in closer alignment with surrounding school districts like San Ramon Valley Unified School District, which just started having students four days a week back in person on Monday.

Secondary students enrolled in the hybrid program currently attend school in person two days a week at PUSD, as well as preschoolers.

Daily schedules for both hybrid and remote programs will not change, nor will daily schedules for elementary students, who already attend school four days per week on an AM/PM schedule and receive additional time with specialists for science, music and P.E.

"I am aware that some folks want to see this expanded to five full days on campus," Haglund said. "However, we have an obligation to maintain consistent support for families who elected to remain in remote learning." By state law, all California public school districts are required to provide remote learning as an option to students during the pandemic.

The district will continue focusing on remote learning in the afternoons and on Wednesdays, "to ensure this support continues without further disruption," Haglund said, adding families "should plan to continue with the learning model they selected when the hybrid program started."

Alameda County's move to the orange tier of the state's COVID-19 monitoring system on Tuesday doesn't affect or clarify the issue of social cohorting at the secondary level for PUSD, but district spokesman Patrick Gannon told the Weekly it's "a move in the right direction."

However, Gannon added being in the orange tier may allow more spectators at events for student sports, which recently resumed.

Later during the meeting on Thursday, the district will present their reopener proposals in order to initiate formal negotiations with the Association of Pleasanton Teachers (APT) for the 2021-22 school year, as required by the California State Collective Bargaining Act. The items include salaries, peer assistance and review, and the district calendar.

According to public documents, APT said they have "an interest in exploring and modifying" the articles of agreement with PUSD concerning hours of employment, class size, salaries and the calendar.