On-campus instruction canceled
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday announced there would be no additional on-campus instruction at Arkansas schools through the end of the current school year.
Alternative Methods of Instruction will continue through the end of the 2019-20 school year, Arkansas Education Commissioner Johnny Key said Monday during the governor’s daily COVID-19 press conference in Little Rock.
The governor’s decision to extend AMI days until the end of the school year will help keep students and employees safe, while also providing students with the instruction they need, Lakeside School District Superintendent Shawn Cook said Monday.
“I truly appreciate the direction we have received and all of the help from the governor, the state and the Department of Education. They care very much, and it shows,” he said.
Shortly after the announcement, the Lake
Hamilton School District sent out an email stating, “At the authorization of Gov. Hutchinson, the Lake Hamilton School District will be closed for onsite instruction for the remainder of the school year. All regularly scheduled school days will utilize alternative methods of instruction (AMI) assignments. The final day of instruction is May 22.”
In-classroom instruction was originally set to resume after April 17. Schools across the state have been closed to in-person instruction since at least March 17.
The Hot Springs School District also posted an update on its website, stating that HSSD schools will continue AMI days through its last day of school, May 28.
“I appreciate our dedicated leaders continuing to make tough decisions for our state that have the best interest for the most people (including students) in mind. While my heart is breaking as an educator and a mother, I understand the need to ensure everyone remains safe and healthy through this scary time,” Hot Springs School District Superintendent Stephanie Nehus said.
“Our Trojan Family is resilient and strong. Our team has spent weeks preparing for an extended AMI period. Our education will continue through May 28 in an AMI format — mostly through Google Classrooms and Zoom sessions,” Nehus said.
“We are also working to ensure that every family has access to Internet and technology devices (if those resources are not available at homes, we are offering them for free). Furthermore, our staff members are dedicated to providing a continuation of services that our schools provide in addition to learning including free meals, counseling services, support from intervention professionals, curriculum and virtual field trips through our Gifted & Talented Program, support from our Special Education Team, support from our therapists, and more,” the district said in a statement posted on its website.
The district will be flexible with the HSSD parents who are struggling to meet the needs of students who are now learning from home, Nehus
said.
“We are collaboratively working with area superintendents on creating commencement ceremonies for our high school seniors. We are working to re-create the registration and re-enrollment process in an online format,” she said.
The Mountain Pine School District administration, in a post on the school’s Facebook page, said “while we are disappointed that we will not see our students on campus and will miss their smiling faces, we do understand that the health of our children and community is paramount at this time.
“Teachers and administrators will be working to develop further lessons to address essential skills taught during the first three quarters of the year. The Arkansas Commissioner of Education, Johnny Key, stated today that introducing too many new concepts to students at this time may have limited effectiveness. Principals and teachers will be communicating with parents as soon as additional information is available.”
Earlier in the day, the superintendents of the county’s seven public school districts issued a joint statement saying they are “collaborating and discussing many options” while planning for Garland County high school graduation ceremonies, “to ensure that our seniors will have a culminating experience. No final decisions have been made at this time.”
Lake Hamilton School District Superintendent Shawn Higginbotham said that even though the district may not have exact answers and information about a graduation ceremony at this moment, the district will make sure that students receive the best culminating experience possible.
“We are committed to making the end of their senior year memorable. Graduation is about recognizing their hard work, and we look forward to celebrating their accomplishments when the time allows,” Higginbotham said.
Today, the seniors will be picking up their graduation materials curbside from Lake Hamilton Wolf Arena between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The parents, staff, and community members will be placing congratulatory signs along their drive into campus congratulating this special group, he said.
“The district realizes this group was not able to participate in the traditional senior walk though our campus buildings, but we hope this small celebration of signs along their drive into campus brings an encouraging smile to their face,” Higginbotham said.
Cook said the message he wants to give to the seniors is to know that the district wants them to have the best experience possible. The school officials don’t know what that experience will be at this point.
“We care so much about them and miss them. We will be reaching out to our seniors as soon as we have more information for them,” Cook said.
The joint statement released Monday said superintendents at each district are awaiting guidance from state officials to determine a safe and appropriate way to conduct these important ceremonies.
When graduation ceremony information is determined, dates and details will be published by respective school websites and social media platforms and communicated with senior students and families.
“We love our kids, we love this community, and we are committed to delivering the highest quality education possible, even during challenging times,” Nehus said.