When Brown County Schools students return to class from winter break on Jan. 4, not all of them will have the option to go back in person.

The superintendent’s office emailed parents on Dec. 18, the first day of break, with a modified plan for starting the new calendar year. Originally, the plan was to bring all buildings back on the “green,” in-person plan, but currently, the plan is this:

Brown County High School: Yellow level (hybrid of in-person and remote schooling every other day; students split into “blue” and “gold” groups)

Brown County Junior High School: Yellow level (hybrid of in-person and remote schooling every other day; students split into “blue” and “gold” groups)

Brown County Intermediate School: Green level (in person)

Helmsburg Elementary School: Green level (in person)

Sprunica Elementary School: Green level (in person)

Van Buren Elementary School: Green level (in person)

Jan. 4 will be a gold group day for BCJHS and BCHS.

The yellow level for BCJHS and BCHS will be reevaluated on Jan. 15, said Superintendent Laura Hammack. “If metrics support a return to the green level, we will transition on Jan. 19,” she wrote. (Monday, Jan. 18 is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and students are not in school then.)

“Should data metrics inform a need to transition away from these levels before we return to school, I will issue an update,” Hammack added.

“It is very important that you continue to notify us of any positive cases/close contacts over the winter break,” the message said. “Please call our hotline if a student in your home tests positive for Covid-19 or is identified as a close contact. The hotline is: 812-988-3477.”