Strong-Huttig provides variety of educational plans

The 2020-21 school year is set to begin on August 24, and schools across the country are preparing to ensure that both educational and safety standards are in place.

The Strong-Huttig school district has released a Ready for Learning plan for 2020-21 that clarifies the two education options offered to students/parents.

The first option, traditional/blended, allows students to participate in on-campus learning with digital learning incorporated into the course work. Students will follow a traditional daily school schedule and learn in the classroom.

The virtual learning option is fully-remote online learning utilizing a program called Lincoln Learning.

Strong-Huttig District Superintendent Kimberly Thomas said a significant number of parents/students are choosing the fully virtual route in her district.

“We started off with about 5% of students enrollment in virtual learning, but now it’s at about 30%,” Thomas said.

For reference, the Strong-Huttig School District had an average daily membership (ADM) of 297 in the 3rd quarter of the previous term.

The school district held open house on Thursday, where parents were able to discuss the upcoming school year with administrators. Families who selected virtual learning also received updates and guidelines for that program.

Education options

The traditional/blended option will combine in-person education with new social distancing practices and the incorporation of various digital learning tools.

As far as curriculum is concerned, the biggest alteration will be the daily incorporation of digital learning tools and Google Classroom, preparation for a possible transition to full-digital learning during the school year should COVID-19 cases increase dramatically in the area.

The virtual learning option can be looked at as the standard curriculum filtered through new delivery methods.

Teachers will give students assignments and “instructional guidance,” according to the plan, and teach through applications such as Zoom and Google Hangouts. There will also be small group sessions lead by instructors. Virtual students will have an assigned homeroom teacher

and be expected to attend pre-scheduled online sessions daily.

Furthermore, teachers will also be able to assign digital projects and “provide digital content to support students.”

The Lincoln Learning platform features a fully online curriculum, a digital library for teachers to utilize for lessons and teacher training. It can also be utilized within Google Classroom.

That program is available, according to the Arkansas Public School Resource Center’s (APSRC) website, through a partnership between the APSRC and Arkansas Department of Education.

For students with special needs, School Based Mental Health providers will “help teachers address specific student social/ emotional learning needs.”

If on-campus learning is canceled, students with special needs will be able to participate in live sessions on platforms such as Zoom and Google Hangout along with video conferencing sessions and phone calls.

All students must have a laptop with camera and microphone, which is available for checkout through the StrongHuttig School District.

Wi-Fi will be available in the parking lot of the district’s schools.

Outside of the classroom, other aspects of day-to-day school life will look different for both in-person and virtual students.

Health and Safety

A range of new protocols and safety measures will be in place when the new school year begins next week.

“We have put a lot of work and effort into minimizing exposure and providing the safest possible environment for teachers and students,” Thomas said.

Social interaction will be limited on-campus in a variety of ways, including classroom seating arrangements, the number of classes and students on the playground at the same time, “minimized transitions when possible” and one-way traffic in the hallways.

Thomas elaborated on a few of the Ready for Learning plan’s health and safety measures.

“With 30% of our students in virtual learning, it allows additional space within the classroom for students who come on-site … We are looking at ways to reduce students in the cafeteria and playground when we have lunch and recess [as well],” Thomas said.

Thomas said the school district has also installed touchless paper towel and soap dispensers.

The Ready for Learning Plan notes that frequent sanitization will be performed in buildings and on surfaces.

The plan says masks will be enforced “as required by the Arkansas Department of Health.”

“Our approach [to masks] is that students [and adults] who are capable of wearing a mask, should. We do realize that very young students may have difficulties, but we do think any time social distancing cannot be achieved, students should have on masks,” Thomas said

Thomas went on to say that the district is prepared to adjust practices and protocols as needed while following basic rules for a clean environment.

“We want to make sure we wash hands, wear face coverings and social distance. Social distancing is one of those things where we are learning to make the adjustments each week and doing everything we can to implement the best practices.” Thomas said.

Students and staff who are not feeling well or have been exposed to COVID-19 are asked to stay home.

On the bus, students will be asked to wear a mask and sit with family members. Hand sanitizer will be available, but the Ready for Learning plan notes that “social distancing may not always be possible on the bus.”

Lunch and breakfast will be provided Monday through Friday, although seating will be limited in the cafeterias. Teachers will rotate, having their classes eat in the cafeteria, classroom or at other designated spots on campus.

Parents of virtual students can order breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday and pick it up at a designated place and time.

If in-person school is canceled again, the plan states that meals will be delivered to designated locations.

Thomas said she believes Strong-Huttig staff and administration are up to take on the challenging, unique school year ahead.

“We know the risks exist and we know steps are necessary to mitigate, and we will do everything we can to keep everyone safe,” Thomas said. “We all want to go home to our families at the end of the day.”

The Strong-Huttig Ready for Learning plan is available at strong.k12. ar.us/43297?articleID=57184.