Too few students have access to internet
By Bert Lehman
The Clintonville School District will have to rely on paper learning packets for students while school is not in session due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not enough students in the district have access to the internet for virtual learning to be equitable.
That was the message the Clintonvillle School Board received when it met March 23.
At that meeting, a plan assembled by the administrative team for the district regarding the COVID-19 pandemic was presented to the board.
This included a continuity learning plan.
“The biggest thing in this plan is a plan of action around equity,” said Superintendent David Dyb.
Beginning on March 23, Dyb said teachers started going to the school in small groups to put together learning materials that would be distributed to the homes of students in the district.
For high school students who are taking a college-accredited course, what the college is doing with that course determines how the school district handles it, Dyb said.
If the college continues the course online, then the district has to make the course available to the student.
Dyb said before the district can move forward with virtual learning, the district must make sure students have equitable access to online resources, internet at home and a device that is capable of communicating with teachers.
“All of the students did go home on Friday with things in hand from teachers that will tide them over until we get our learning package out to them,” Dyb said.
School Board President Ben Huber said parents have asked him why the district is not doing virtual learning yet.
“That is because not everyone has that availability, which means it is a violation of their civil rights, if we as a district would do that,” Huber said. “And there have been several law firms and the DPI (Department of Public Instruction), that request that that is not an acceptable way of doing it unless every student has equal access to the same information. You can’t provide it for some and not for all. That’s why we’re going with paper packets. With the paper packets, everyone will be able to get (it), everyone will be able to work on (it) equally.”
Treasurer Kris Strauman said the district should also have counselors available for students if they are needed.
Dyb said homeroom teachers are required to call families each week.
Counselors are also checking in on families who have students on their watch lists.