From a distance, for the rest of the school year
Lake City Public Schools had a relatively smooth transition to distance learning thanks to some technology adopted in the last few years, but what about prom, and commencement?
Students in the Lake City School District had their last day in the school buildings on Friday, March 13. Distance learning began at the end of the month.
Lincoln High School Principal Greg Berge said the change was a challenge for students, teachers, and parents. Lake City had it easier than some of its peers, however.
“It has gone probably as smooth as any district could have ever gone with this,” Berge said.
That’s because the school had already issued most students iPads and used the e-learning platform Schoology for several years.
“How we got information to students didn’t change from what happens on a normal school day,” Berge said. “Our platform was set and people know our platform.”
The major adjustment was the shift to using Zoom for teacher and student interaction and figuring out scheduling that worked for students and families, he said.
“Many of our students are doing very well,” he said, but there is a group that is struggling, though that also happens in a traditional school setting.
“This is a challenge for a certain segment of kids who need the structure and stability of school on a day-to-day basis. They may not have the home environment to be successful in this type of learning,” he said. “Teachers are doing a good job trying to reach out and make the best of a tough situation.”
After two weeks of distance learning, the school district surveyed parents and got over 250 responses.
Over 98 percent said the distance learning plan had been adequately communicated to them and their children.
Berge said the workload and class time requirements are about half what they would be with students in the school building.
The majority of parents, about 85 percent, responded that the amount of work for students was “just right.” The rest of the responses were split between too much and too little.
Another question asked whether children were connecting with school staff. About 75 percent said yes. Another 15 percent said they didn’t now.
Now that Gov. Tim Walz has ordered schools to remain closed for the rest of the school year, Berge doesn’t foresee major changes to the distance learning program.
“I want teachers to constantly be reflective but I think we’re in a good place and we need to keep reaching out and connecting with kids the best we can these last four weeks of the school year,” he said.
The end of the school year is when students do a lot of standardized testing. This year there well be a lot less.
The MCA and NWEA tests are canceled. Juniors won’t be taking the ACT on campus.
Advanced Placement tests have been shortened and will be taken from home. And Berge said the district is still trying to determine a way to offer CLEP tests for college credit.
Prom and commencement are another challenge.
Originally scheduled for May 2, prom was postponed until May 16, now it’s anyone’s guess.
“Prom is really outside of our control in terms of what we can do,” Berge said. “It’s based on guidelines from Minnesota Department of Health. If guidelines change during the summer we will look at having it then.”
If prom doesn’t happen this year, members of the Class of 2020 will be allowed to attend prom in 2021 if they choose, Berge said.
As for commencement, the school has surveyed graduating seniors and their parents and teachers. A committee of students and faculty were scheduled to meet Wednesday, April 29, to talk about the survey results and options for a commencement ceremony.
Berge said that on Tuesday he sat in on two webinars with other principals where he was able to gather some ideas for graduation.
Overall, he’s pleased with what teachers and students have accomplished with the transition to distance learning.
“This is a big challenge, the kids didn’t ask for this and neither did the teachers,” he said. “I’m very very proud of how our teachers and kids have responded so far.”
