Sean C. Morgan
Since the closure of local schools on March 16, educators have been busy working out ways to get instruction out to their students while they stay at home to help avoid spreading the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Sweet Home School District officials expect the Oregon Department of Education to provide guidance on a variety of issues, including high school seniors and graduation as well as distance learning and state testing.
As of Friday, no students or members of the general public were allowed in school facilities.
“My counsel to staff has been to first make sure we focus on keeping our students, families, staff and community as healthy as possible,” said Supt. Tom Yahraes in a statement Friday.
“We do this by following the health authorities’ health and safety guidance, and that starts with doing everything we can to decrease the spread of the coronavirus. I know we are used to coming together as a team. The health authorities suggest the way we come together is to stay apart.
“And while we are apart, the Sweet Home School District is committed to adapting to the situation and do the very best we can to deliver learning support and other support services to our community. I’m proud of Sweet Home. We are a can-do community. We will rise to the occasion and adapt to this extraordinary set of circumstances as a team.”
The district is continuing to provide free breakfast and lunch take-out packages for children from infants to age 18, which can be picked up from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday at Sweet Home High School, 1575 Long St., and Foster School, 5526 Poplar St.
Around the district, principals Josh Dargis at Holley and Todd Barrett of Oak Heights sent videos out to families, while Hawthorne staff members have been streaming themselves reading stories. Principal Barbi Riggs kicked it off, and Carrie Brown has taken point in most of the videos, working through “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.”
“This is normally where I say it’s great to have you here today,” Dargis said in a video March 19. “Can’t say that right now, so instead of saying that, I just wanted to tell you what’s going on. I’m here at the school. We are getting cleaned. We’ve been getting cleaned all week. We’re actually getting some paint down outside too, out by the playground, out by Rooms 1, 2 and 3.”
In an announcement, he said, “the theme for today is grit. Grit means that when things get hard and when things aren’t easy, keep going and you try your best. This could be in anything. This could be during writing, math or during sports.”
The shout out of the day went out to all those students who picked up their homework and got it all done. Dargis urged parents to check the district and school websites and social media for updates, to email with staff with questions and to use the “Remind” app.
“I miss you guys,” Dargis said – mostly to the students. “I’m thinking about you all the time. I hope you’re being safe. Be safe. Listen to your parents. Wash your hands. Read some books.”
At Oak Heights, the message was similar.
“This is your principal, Mr. Barrett, checking in,” Barrett said in a video to students. “I haven’t gotten to say that this week, so I thought I’d make a quick video just to check in with everybody, see how things are going. Hope you guys are doing good. We miss you here at school. The school’s being cleaned, being sanitized, and being prepared for when we do start up.
“I know lots of you are wondering about when we come back to school and about homework and all that stuff. We’ll have more information for you soon, but for now, rest up, be well, take care of each other, don’t pick on your parents too much. Make sure you’re reading. It’s always important to be reading. Do some math. Maybe do some cooking. It’s a great way to learn your fractions and your measuring. And just be together as families, and we’ll get back to you soon with more information.”
While out of school, students have access to multiple online education programs, and as of Friday, staff members were supposed to return to work after spring break to begin planning distance learning plans.
Yahraes told The New Era those could take the form of paper packets or online packets. The district sent a survey out to parents Thursday seeking input on which they prefer.
“I would estimate we’ll take a multi-prong approach,” Yahraes said. All means of instructing students are on the table. Staff members have seen models in Washington state that may help them develop plans here.
Yahraes said he doesn’t know whether schools, which are closed at least through April 28, will open again this year. The district will follow direction from the Oregon Department of Education.
At some point in April, state officials will look at the trends with the virus, he said. If the number of cases continues to grow, “on the table would possibly be closure for the rest of the year. It’s day-by-day, week-to-week.”
He expects to hear in the first week of April whether the state will extend or shorten the closure.
“In the meantime, teachers, certified staff, will be working virtually and in their classrooms on a limited basis,” he said. They will have access to their rooms and use their resources to develop distance learning and supplemental learning opportunities for students.
Yahraes expects the ODE to give additional guidance about supplemental and distance learning, he said. “Some of the first orders of business in these next days will give districts accommodations with regard to seniors and graduation.”
The guidance, which he expects by the end of Spring Break this week, should address credits, grades and related requirements, he said. “We fully anticipate that she (the governor) will provide accommodations for graduating seniors.”
ODE is working on guidance regarding grades for freshmen, sophomores and juniors earning credits to stay on track to graduate, Yahraes said.
He expects to hear more about students on individualized education plans and general state testing requirements, which takes place during this part of the year, Yahraes said. Additionally, he anticipates that the state will waive requirements for instructional time as well.
“We are not alone,” he said. These issues are in front of every district in the state and most of them across the country.
This is an extraordinary period where the ODE must work through the governor’s order to shut down schools, he said. While the whole thing is important though, the first priority needs to be on graduating seniors.
As soon as he has the information, he will let families now, Yahraes said.
The district continues to deliver lunches to students at Foster School and at Sweet Home High School, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on weekdays.
As part of the Gov. Kate Brown’s order, Yahraes said, Brown said she will ensure that schools continue to receive funding during the closure so that employees will not be laid off and that vital services, including meals for students, can continue.
Yahraes doesn’t know whether schools will reopen this year. State agencies will decide that, but whenever they do, whether it’s next month or next year, “we’re going to educate kids.”