Norman schools to start online
NORMAN—Norman Public Schools will not return to in-person learning at the beginning of the school year.
The district will start classes virtually, Superintendent Nick Migliorino announced in a video message Sunday evening. The Norman Board of Education approved delaying the first day of school to Aug. 24 during a meeting Monday night.
Migliorino said his intention is to reopen schools once COVID-19 cases abate to a sustainably low level.
“I want kids in school ,” Migliorino said during the board meeting .“I don' t want there to be a hesitation in anyone's mind that that is not where I want to be.
“That is my goal and that is what I want to happen and we are going to figure out how to make that happen.”
Mig li orino,w hose two daughters attend Norman schools, didn't specify how long classes would remain online. The district will phase students back into its buildings “as soon as it is safe to do so,” according to its website.
Norman originally planned to return with options for both face-to-face classes and online learning. The school district reconsidered when Cleveland County showed a “troubling” rise in COVID19 cases, Migliorino said.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health released new county percapita data on Friday, showing Cleveland County rose to 19.98 cases per 100,000.
This elevated the county to Orange Level 1 under the Oklahoma State Department of Education's COVID- 19 Alert System. School districts in counties at this level are advised to transition to an alternate class schedule or distance learning.
Several frustrated parents attended Monday's school board meeting to protest the district's departure from inperson classes.
Multiple parents said they wanted the option of face-to-face education. They worried for children who will be stuck in abusive homes and for working parents who would struggle to find child care. Some threatened to enroll their children in private school.
Ryan Stover said in public comment he wanted the choice to send his children to their Norman schools in person.
“What we have done here, it is based out of a paralyzing fear, not a healthy fear,” Stover said. “I have a healthy fear about COVID, but I do what is required to protect myself and my family. I want my kids to be in school.”
However, many other parents and teachers have pleaded with the district not to reopen school buildings. More than 2,000 parents, educators and Norman residents signed a letter last month asking for a delay to a traditional start.
Norman parent MaryAnn Martin helped organize the letter and spoke to the board at its last meeting July 20.
“Our children have a right to attend and access school safely, just like our teachers have the right to a safe workplace,” Martin said in public comment .“That is our imperative here: to err on the side of what is best for all instead of preferences for some.”
Putnam City, Yukon and Oklahoma City Public Schools have similarly decided to start the school year online.
Other local districts, such as Edmond and Midwest City-Del City Public Schools, opted for an alternating A/B schedule in which some students attend in person part of the week while others stay home.
Norman is not ready for a split schedule option, Migliorino said. Teachers were not on contract over the summer and would have only a few weeks to prepare for a complicated split schedule.
“We're not going to have a good outcome,” Migliorino said. “You've just doubled the workload and ( you're) doing something that we have not learned how to do yet.”