The failure rate with remote learners is the biggest issue with education in the state, Superintendent John Kelly said. Because of this, the state is allowing districts to require remote students failing one or more classes to come back to school.
Trustee Crystal Carbone said she has heard concern from some parents about districts requiring students to come back to campus. However, she has also heard from parents who have students who are failing and want to help them succeed.
“I think there is room for discussion and open opportunity there,” Carbone said.
The district is at the beginning of learning about this option, Kelly said. If the district were to move forward with this option, it would likely begin in January, Kelly said.
The district also approved a request for state flexibility to meet minimum instructional minutes. The request was made petition the state to allow days of solely remote learning to count toward attendance.
The resolution comes after the district’s discussion of teacher stress. At the beginning of the school year, the district gave teachers Fridays for remote learning, which allowed teachers to plan lessons and contact students. However, the state does not count that time toward attendance hours.
“It was asked of me by the board to draft something that we could address a central problem within the school district this year due to the pandemic, and that is a basically universal belief among teachers and principals that teachers do not have adequate time for planning,” Kelly said.
