McKeesport: Virtual learning concerns addressed

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

McKeesport Area School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Holtzman and the school board had a frank conversation about issues with virtual learning at Wednesday’s meeting.

Tiffany Wampler told the board she was desperate for answers to console her daughters, who are stressed over getting bad grades. She has concerns about her children struggling with virtual learning in an asynchronous environment and claims there are issues with the Edmentum online learning platform that are adding to their struggles.

Wampler said her daughters are good students who try hard to be productive and are involved with extracurricular activities, such as student council.

She explained that because she and her husband have had recent health issues, she feels that — for the safety of her family amid the coronavirus pandemic — she has no option but to have her daughters attend school virtually. 

Wampler told the board that one of her daughters, an eighth-grader, is a National Honor Society student who “never missed a day.”

“She does this online school program; she’s getting Fs,” Wampler said, later adding that her other daughter is also struggling.

“I get letters from the school stating that my children are constantly failing, which I don’t even understand because they sit in front of me from eight o’clock in the morning until two o’clock in the afternoon,” she said.

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