Cal Area offers answers
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
At a town hall meeting Monday, California Area parents expressed hope that their children can return to class in person next week — regardless of how many days — because they have faith in their school district.
Earlier this month, administrators were leaning toward a hybrid-style learning model, but after recommendations came down from the state Department of Education, the district’s Pandemic Task Force decided to recommend students start the school year differently.
Under the current recommendation, which the school board will vote on Wednesday, students will begin the year with two in-person days Aug. 26 and Aug. 28, along with a virtual day Aug. 27.
The two face-to-face days are intended to give teachers an opportunity to meet their students and pass out materials, while the virtual day in between will allow students and their families to familiarize themselves with Google Classroom.
Students will have three weeks of virtual learning through the district’s Cyber Academy from Aug. 31 through Sept. 18, when the model will be reconsidered by the Pandemic Task Force.
After the task force modified their recommendation, a group on Facebook and a town hall meeting was organized by parents to discuss their concerns.
More than 40 parents, teachers and administrators showed up Monday at the Roscoe Sportsmen’s Association in Coal Center, including Superintendent Dr. Laura Jacob and school board members Diane Scrip and Diane Zielensky.
Larry Pollock and Jennifer Todd, two district parents who spearheaded the group, said many parents were impressed with the hybrid plan and other steps the district has taken to inform families about how in-person learning would look during the pandemic.
“I think we owe our administration a round of applause for everything they have done so far,” Pollock said. “I think everyone was really happy with the plan that was in place, and when we got the news and heard we were switching it up, that is why we are here today.”
Pollock said while some parents have differing opinions on how many in-person days should be scheduled, most seem to agree that face-to-face instruction in some capacity is necessary.
“Beyond the academics, I personally feel our kids need to get back to normal, to talk to their friends, to socialize,” he said. “Our district is diverse. For some kids, sadly, the person that is their hero — sometimes it is not mom and dad, or their grandparents — it is their teachers.
“And I know we worry about our teachers, too, but we have a good plan in place and I think with that plan we can get the kids back to some sort of normal and start feeling like themselves again.”
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