Superintendent of Schools Doug White praised the tech department while discussing a district-wide shift to remote learning during the April 2 online meeting of the Rochester Memorial School Committee.
On April 3, White wrote a letter to the Tri-Town Communities stating that all six schools in the Old Rochester Regional School district were shifting to a remote-learning model. Furthermore, all staff members have been busy drafting remote-learning plans to share with parents, guardians, and students.
ORR’s goal is that students can learn on and offline while away from the classroom until at least May 4 per state order.
“We’re having dialogue about what that may look like and what we might do,” White told the Rochester School Committee assembled via video conference online. “Remote learning isn’t just a virtual experience… it could be a large group of people getting together. It could be an audio-conference, it could be a 1-to-1 student (session)… We’re trying to get that message out that it’s not just screen time or time with the teacher.”
According to White, ORR is looking at a schedule of three hours only on the backs of their classroom teacher, roughly half the time of a school day. “Another thing that we’re asking is that teachers provide an hour of office time available to their families (i.e. office hours),” he said.
This could be done by phone or via phone apps, computer programs or email, he said.
Committee member Tina Rood suggested that there be one guaranteed place where families will know how to connect to a teacher. “We’re in what is a crisis with the families,” she said.
White said the schools are already in such an active communication that the school will be the side performing regular maintenance of those situations.
Principal Derek Medeiros said Rochester Memorial School will continue posting messages to remind families that this communication is being promoted.
White told committee member Sharon Hartley that families would be advised as to how the day will proceed and the online platforms.
“We have teachers who are using email and teachers who are using a website,” said White, who said work is ongoing on professional development for support of teachers to mobilize them. “We’re going to make mistakes and we’re going to do better.”
White acknowledged the changing goals with the passing of time since it became apparent school would be out beyond the original prescription of April 7 to the present order of May 4.
“We’re just under 300 Chromebooks lent out over all of the districts; that’s a continuing opportunity that we’re offering our students,” he said.
Hot spots are also being addressed and alternative means of internet linkage.
“Our teachers feel comfortable with the platforms that we’re using,” said Medeiros. “I think everybody’s going to be a Zoom expert.” Jokes aside, Medeiros says online tutorials are being researched and sent out to teachers to support their efforts.
Assistant Superintendent Mike Nelson suggested that if people visit the ORR website or any of the school webpages, then move to the Staff Resources tab up top and click on “PD for School Closure,” it will show the programs and resources that the ORR District is offering.
Nelson discussed special education, noting immediate meetings upon the March 13 closure of schools, beginning weekly check-ins with homes and offering students newly needing social and emotional support to engage Central Office.
“Our priority is providing as many services and support to our families as we possibly can, knowing that they’re not going to be looking the same,” said Nelson, who went on what he called a “Zoom marathon” to reach out to families with students with disabilities.
Screen time was also discussed by the committee, acknowledging the necessary byproduct of online learning being additional hours spent by children at their computers.
In his report, White thanked the ongoing work of cafeteria in ORR schools for the 145-170 lunches distributed per day. White said ORR will move to an every-other-day schedule to limit exposure by staff. There is no interaction between staff and those picking up lunches. Staffers maintain separate stations while working to prepare lunches.
“There had been conversation about reimbursement… We’ve lost the ability to collect funds,” said White. “Just over the weekend, the (federal government) announced that they will cover it… Our cafeteria workers are not supported through our budget. We will keep you posted with that.”
People who pick up meals receive lunch and breakfast for the next day.
Classrooms are being cleaned more intensely and regularly and, if used, are being sanitized again. “We’ve been doing that in all three towns,” said White.
Following the March 13 school closure, Medeiros reported having allowed teachers to come back into school to gather belongings for the ongoing absence.
“I want to acknowledge that we are paving the road as we are walking on it, and we are walking on it,” said Hartley when opening the meeting. “I’m proud of many of the things that have happened in the past few weeks with our students, our children and their families. Thank you, everyone.”
Class assignment for the 2020-21 school year in all ORR schools will be moved to mid-August, Medeiros confirmed, and March 12 meeting minutes were approved.
The April 2 meeting began with committee approval of the appointment of Laurie Walsh as new recording secretary.
The ORR School Committee is scheduled to meet on April 15.
Rochester Memorial School Committee
By Mick Colageo