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BACK TO SCHOOL
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2020
Remote or in-person, NPPS wants students to learn
Classrooms will try to social distance, say learning directors
distance and follow the guide- lines.” She said the teachers will be working on those arrange- ments when they come to the buildings to prepare for open- ing. Online, elementary class- es will offer curriculum via Google Classroom. “At K-5, we have one teach- er at each grade level that is recording their lessons and we’re uploading them to Google Classroom,” Benjamin said. “The students will be able to download those and watch them while doing their work.” Elementary students learn- ing remotely will not access their classes live. “The child who is going re- mote is going to have to work remotely,” Benjamin said. “We’re just trying to give them as many tools as we can to be successful.” A student with a question on an assignment can email the teacher, Benjamin said. “They are able to reach out and get the help that they
far away as the room allows,” Benjamin said. “We’ve elimi- nated a lot of the materials in the classrooms as far as book- shelves or teachers’ desks.” Benjamin said the dis- trict has tried to create the optimal amount of space to distance the students. At this time, he said, he didn’t think class sizes would cause the district to move any classes from their original rooms to larger ones. “I don’t think the class siz- es differ that much in each building, so I don’t think moving a class to a differ- ent room will create enough extra space to make much dif- ference,” Benjamin said. “In the elementary schools we didn’t move any classes.” Carlson said it’s similar at the secondary level. “The only courses that we are looking at in terms of a variation of a classroom arrangement would poten- tially be our music classes,” Carlson said. “That all stems on enrollment and our ability to use our larger classrooms to get students to safely
By JOB VIGIL jvigil@nptelegraph.com
Whether students attend school in person or online this fall, every effort is being made to offer opportunities to learn at North Platte Public Schools. Vikki Carlson, direc- tor of secondary teaching and learning, and Trent Benjamin, director of elemen- tary teaching and learning, said they are ready to handle whatever comes with the new school year. Classrooms will look different, and the online platforms will try to accom- modate the needs of students who will attend in a virtual world. “For the classroom setting, they are just going to try to social distance as much as we can and getting the desks as
Courtesy photo via Lee News Service Bertrand students watch a video recorded by their teach- er. North Platte Public Schools will offer on-site and remote learning opportunities for students this fall.
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into their designated classroom. Each class- room has an external door, and the students will stay in that class- room throughout the day. Students will not be filing into the build- ing and down the hallways. “They’ll eat their lunch in that class- room, do all their work in that classroom,” Carson said. “If they’re going to have a differ- ent teacher, the teacher will come to them.” Carson said that by keeping students in their classrooms, the school may be able to isolate one room, rath- er than the entire school, if a COVID-19 exposure occurs.
Students will be counted absent un- less the district has received a quaran- tine order or directive from a medical pro- vider or authorized health official. With proper documentation the student will not be counted absent. Staff will be required to wear masks in a few specific areas and at all times during elevated and high-risk levels. Maxwell Public Schools Maxwell Public Schools’ opening is scheduled for Aug. 13. The plan has been posted on its website, but a statement from Superintendent Danny
ly as conditions and information from the CDC and West Central Health Department warrant. Mobility be- tween risk levels will be based on current information made available by WCDHD. Our Redeemer Lutheran School Our Redeemer Principal Wende Carson said school will begin Aug. 19 as planned. Several pre- cautions will be in place including a temperature station outside the entrance at the flagpole. Carson said students will enter the building
McMurtry says that things change dai- ly. The district will be continually looking at its plan and making adjustments to fit cir- cumstances and will inform parents and stu- dents of changes. Brady Public Schools Brady schools’ sched- uled opening date is Aug. 17. Individuals who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will be required to leave the building. Parents or guardians will be noti- fied. The school notes that these procedures are general guide- lines, and changes may need to occur quick-
staff.
Sutherland Public Schools Currently, Sutherland Public Schools will have all students attend in per- son with no modified schedule. The first day for students is Aug. 14. Alternate learning op- tions will be in place only for students who need a different educa- tional placement by law, as determined in an Individualized Education Programor by a 504 plan team, or for students who are under a direct medi- cal quarantine. In those circumstances, alterna- tive arrangements will bemade on a case-by- case basis.
cur in person in the classroom with a few exceptions. A main priority is educating staff and students on proper hygiene and social dis- tancing protocols that will better help protect students and staff. The district will be provid- ing this information through signage in the building and through communication with parents via mail, email, website and so- cial media. The district is still discussing what the screening protocol will be for students and
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