Virtual instruction days policy accepted by Somerset board

Posted 11/1/22

WESTOVER — The Somerset County Board of Education at its October meeting approved on second reader a virtual instruction plan that provides a way to keep students engaged with learning even …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already a member? Log in to continue.   Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Virtual instruction days policy accepted by Somerset board

Posted

WESTOVER — The Somerset County Board of Education at its October meeting approved on second reader a virtual instruction plan that provides a way to keep students engaged with learning even when a day off has been called due to weather or tide.

Up to eight virtual learning days — three of which may be asynchronous — are allowed during the school year. The other five days are required to be interactive with a teacher online for up to four hours per day but because of poor internet connectivity in rural parts of the county that would not be an option.

Superintendent Dr. John Gaddis said when forecasters predict bad weather the teachers can load the devices in advance with homework. “If they tell us a big storm’s coming, we can have everything loaded into the laptops and devices” that students take home, he said.

“The student can still go play in the snow, can still have a snow day, but can make the work up at a different time,” Dr. Gaddis said. “They don’t have to sit there from 8 to 3 o’clock.”

There are three snow days in the school calendar. If none of them are used the last day of school for students, a half day, will be Thursday, June 8.

Having three virtual instruction days may prevent the school year from extending into the following Monday and/or Tuesday, but Dr. Gaddis said if there’s a pop-up storm an inclement weather day would be added to the calendar. He hopes that does not happen because attendance, especially if school goes until June 12 and/or 13, would be very low.

Deputy Superintendent Tom Davis said the plan accounts for attendance, and makes accommodations for special education students. It is based on a template provided by the Maryland State Department of Education which grants final approval.

Board member Bill McInturff said internet connectivity is an issue in other counties as well and he asked if they could collaboratively work on this regional problem. Dr. Gaddis said it’s being discussed by other superintendents and will require political intervention, adding that the school system could not guarantee a number of households a private internet provider might gain if it extended service to an underserved area.

Members and subscribers make this story possible.
You can help support non-partisan, community journalism.

x
X