An area school district’s students will be transitioning to distance learning.
According to a release from Concordia R-2 Superintendent Brent Cooper, Wednesday, November 11, will be the last day of on-campus learning this week. He says the number of students and staff who have been quarantined has increased significantly this week. Currently, the district has 58 students and 12 staff quarantined.
Cooper says, “We do not have enough substitute teachers to continue effectively. Having the essential worker resolution in place will help shorten the quarantine length of the staff who live in Lafayette County, but we still do not have enough to cover at the moment. Thursday and Friday this week will be distance-learning days (staff will come in, students will learn from home).”
Cooper also says, “Our staff will get out the materials/supplies, devices, etc., needed to our students (Wednesday) and (have) a chance to communicate with them further about their classes for the remainder of the week. Students will have the same expectations as during the previous distance-learning session unless they are instructed differently by our staff.“
Cooper adds Wednesday will be the last day of extra-curricular practices and activities this week. All extra-curricular practices and contests will be cancelled or postponed on Thursday and Friday. Teams can still have virtual practices if needed.
Cooper says the intention will be to implement the 4/1 learning plan (four days in session as normal/one distance-learning day per week) that was discussed through the last survey next week. That will mean that next week, Monday would be a distance-learning day, and Tuesday through Friday will be on-campus learning as normal. If the district does not have enough substitute teachers available by Tuesday, it may have to keep the distance learning in place until there is enough to cover appropriately.
Cooper says the district will make an announcement by 7 p.m. on Friday to inform everyone if the district will be implementing the 4/1 plan or continuing with the distance-learning plan. Either way, Monday will be a distance-learning day.
Cooper says, “If we are able to implement the 4/1 plan next week, all extra-curricular activities and contests would be allowed again. If we have to remain in distance learning, then all extra-curricular activities and contests will be cancelled/postponed during that duration. We will make decisions at that point on a weekly basis.”
On Wednesday, the district will be sending out information about the grab-and-go meals concerning the rest of this week and Monday. After confirming with Lex-La-Ray on Wednesday, the district will inform its students who attend Vo-Tech school in Lexington what they need to do those days.