District Superintendents Prepare for Possibility of More Distance Learning Next Year

Posted Date: 05/18/2020

As the unprecedented and distasteful final chapter of the 2019-20 school year comes to a close, district leaders now must turn their attention to what school will look like in August.

The State Department of Education is urging schools to consider adjustments and plan contingencies for day-to-day operations in the event that distance learning must return in some capacity.

The State Department of Education intends to issue detailed guidance and frameworks for schools to consider in the coming weeks. 

Union Superintendent Kirt Hartzler said the idea is to prepare students and teachers for alternating between classroom and remote learning and enable them to succeed in either setting.

To make this possible, Union has purchased enough laptops to expand the district’s one-to-one technology initiative to kindergarten through 12th grade. Only high-schoolers previously received laptops to take home.

Hartzler considers this kind of preparation to be the new normal for public education.

“I think it’s shortsighted to say we’re going to start school in August and not have any disruptions because of COVID-19,” he said. “We don’t want there to be any learning loss, but we think we’re going to be in a better position with our staff members and teachers to have a plan in place so that if school is out for 10 days, we can do that. That flexibility, to me, is the benefit here. Is it ideal? No way. But it’s a viable option.” See Tulsa World story