GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – School is not out for summer, and it’s not out forever. Classes are back in session for Green Bay area students – but classrooms are not. Teachers returned from Spring Break to plan alternatives ways to deliver their classes following the state’s mandated school closures due to COVID-19.
Green Bay schools have now begun their online learning experience, but it’s not without a few bumps in the road.
“Not everybody has a computer, not everybody has the Internet – but we want to make sure everybody’s needs are met,” says Associate Superintendent of Continuous Improvement John Magas, “Even in homes where sometimes there is WiFi – they might have multiple grownups working from home or other needs there. So we’re making sure that we are getting individual information and packets distributed to students.”
The district is distributing those packets – along with Chromebooks to 6th-12th graders who did not take one home prior to Spring Break. The Technology Department is also continuing to distribute the laptops at Washington and Franklin Middle Schools from noon-3 p.m., Monday through Friday.
“We’re phasing into a transition where we’re making sure that those connections with students and supports for students are there – and really making sure that particularly our students with greater need have the greatest amount of access,” Magas says.
For grades 4K-5th, the district is working to focus on learning that doesn’t require as much technology – and will be sending out math workbooks and Scholastic books to students. Parents and guardians are encouraged to visit the Parent Portal online or contact school principals to ensure their contact information and address is accurate. Teachers will also have regular contact with students and their families to provide resources on a variety of subjects.
The district created guidelines for the amount of time students should be in classes – with 6th-12th graders having 3-4 hours per day, or approximately 30 minutes per class.
Classes in grades 6-12 are generally using Google Classroom, Google Hangout, and other forms of communications through the interactive online suite. But as most would expect, teaching classes via the Internet was not a perfect practice on the first day – or in the first week.
“Our main platform for secondary is Google Classroom, and I think we’re seeing moderate success with it,” Magas says, “Some teachers weren’t using it as their main platform because they weren’t having that same significant online presence, so as those people are gearing up, we’re making sure we have those connections.”
They are also using software that allows them to send text through computer – which also simultaneously translates the words into different languages. There are an estimated 38 different languages spoken by students in the Green Bay Area Public School District. Those text messages are often helpful with students who Magas says come to them with special education learning needs or English-language learning needs.
While teachers and students alike work to figure out how the connections operate and what to expect with their classes – the district hopes all necessary material can be taught and learned properly, even without direct in-person classes.
“We’re really thinking about how are we gearing those students up for when they come back – so those gaps are closed and they’re not missing anything vital,” Magas tells WTAQ News, “Really trying our best to make the best of a hard situation.”
The district is also working to make sure dual-credit and Advance Placement courses are properly closed out so students can receive the appropriate college credits. There are also discussions about how to honor graduating seniors – as they have yet to make announcements about the postponement or cancellation of any commencement activities.
“We know it’s important for seniors. We know it’s important for their families. We want to make sure we’re doing something – we don’t want to coldly mail a diploma to kids without thinking about how we can commemorate that time,” Magas says.
There isn’t an exact end-date scheduled for the school year at this point, as the situation around the COVID-19 pandemic remains fluid with new orders and mandates coming from both the state and federal levels.
“We all have to be flexible and responsive. There are times that we have to hit the pause button on what we think is going to happen, and then press the reset button when we have to think about new changes,” Magas says.
Maintaining proper and high-quality education is the prime goal for the district as we move into uncertain times and digital learning, but that’s not all they’re concerned about. The care and life of students and their families is also a large dot on their radar.
“We’re focusing on the learning, but we’re also thinking about the whole needs of the family. We want people to be rest assured that we’re going to be flexible, we’re going to work with people, and we don’t want them to feel a huge amount of pressure,” Magas says, “We want them to know we’re there for them and we’re going to support the learning in the best way we can.”
For more help or information with Online Learning Resources, you can check out this page on the school district website.
