Fort Bend ISD shared some details of what online learning through the district would look like at the March 23 board of trustees meeting.
Deputy Superintendent Diana Sayavedra said the week of March 30 will act as a “First Week of School” when families will receive guidelines and expectations for online learning. Online learning through the district will begin April 6.
Sayavedra said district staff has worked to develop daily and weekly schedules for families to follow that have information on the amount of instructional time expected per day by grade level.
“It’s realistic and reasonable in terms of what a family might be able to manage and what teachers might be able to manage in terms of providing feedback and developing office hours for video conferencing,” Sayavedra said.
Superintendent Charles Dupre said these lessons are not optional and that children are expected to be engaged in educational activities, but the district will work with families to accommodate their needs.
Dupre said if school closures extend past April or into May, the board of trustees may have to make difficult decisions about starting school early next year in order to get students back up to speed and address any inequities in learning.
“The reality that we are going to have to deal with is that, despite our very best efforts, many children are going to have gaps in their learning because they are losing the last nine weeks of school,” he said.
Dupre said any decision about suspending in-person classes beyond April 10 will come the week of April 3.
FBISD has surveyed families to see what technology and internet needs were present in the community and is working to address those prior to the start of online learning.
FBISD Chief Operations Officer Oscar Perez said his staff is using the extended closure to begin work on campuses that was previously scheduled for the summer. Additionally, he said custodial crews disinfected campuses during spring break, and all sinks will be functional when students return to school.
