RCPS grades itself on COVID response

“Greetings from your redesigned RCPS!” is how Rappahannock Schools Superintendent Dr. Shannon Grimsley describes academic instruction in the age of coronavirus.

In an early May summary report submitted to the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors, Grimsley said: “Although the buildings may be closed, the teachers and sta have been working harder than ever to serve the needs of our families.

“I’ll begin with a quick update about what has taken place since the closure began on March 13: RCPS did not skip a beat and began a feeding plan immediately beginning March 16. Since the closure the RCPS Food Service team has served over 6,000 meals to families.”

That number, which averages around 1,000 prepared meals per week, has no doubt increased by several thousand.

Grimsley went on to report that RCPS “was able to speak with every family about their technological needs and respond quickly with preloaded devices and hotspots to mitigate the digital equity gap. On April 15, 420 devices were given to students — 50 percent of our student population.”

As for instruction, she noted that “RCPS did not wait for the state to determine that instruction would continue, but immediately sent home learning packets with students before departure on March 13 and rolled out a distance learning plan with modi ed grading for Quarter 4 to keep new instruction going and keep students engaged with content. “RCPS teachers are providing individualized instruction geared toward the needs of every child and administration is following up with any and all students struggling to be successful in this new format.”

Finally, the superintendent said the school system “set up an emotional support hotline in anticipation of social isolation and heightened anxiety due to the situation in order to serve any student or family member needing to talk.”