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Learning from home presents new challenges to students, parents, and educators

JOHNSTON CITY - Like many other groups, educators have found themselves in uncharted waters with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing schools to remain closed while still providing an education to the students.

Like most other districts, educators in Johnston City are facing the challenge of providing instruction remotely.

On Tuesday, schools statewide were instructed to begin remote learning days until in-person instruction can resume.

After Gov. JB Pritzker's executive order closed schools until April 7, a closure that many educational leaders believe will be extended through the end of the month at the urging of the federal government's social distancing guidelines, districts quickly rallied to put in place online and home instruction packets as well as providing meals for students whose families rely on free and reduced price meals.

Johnston City CUSD 1 is no exception.

On Monday, teachers and administrators were manning drop off points at the district schools for those who chose to hand in the packets from the week before in person.

While those packets were intended to keep students engaged and reinforcing skills already learned, they were not required.

With the new remote learning mandate, work must now be completed.

"We know it's a stressful time for everyone," said superintendent Kathy Clark, noting that "normal" routines have been turned upside down.

"Parents are trying to work from home," she said, "or they are coming home from work and trying to teach their children. Each has a unique situation."

In some cases, Clark says that older students may be caregivers for younger siblings or kids may be staying with grandparents or caregivers unable to help with homework. Some students may even be helping to support the family.

"We are trying to make it stress free for everybody," she said. "We are trying to be as accommodating as possible with every kid."

Traditional learning and educational expectations are going to change, at least for now.

"Typically, as a teacher, you're looking for mastery," said Clark. "Right now, we're focusing on growth."

She said teachers are sending work that has a lot of review of previously learned material so students won't lose the skills already gained. Students will see new material and information, but Clark said teachers are trying to pace that so as not to overload the learners.

"For me, the goal is a continuity of education with no negative impact on any student's grade," Clark said.

Clark said her district will not fail any student.

However, in order to pass, students will be required to engage in the learning process being provided by the district. For K-8 students, they will earn a pass and complete. Clark said students could end up with an "incomplete" if they do not engage with anything.

The district's high school students will remain on the grading scale, except that no "F" grades will be issued. "We will issue incompletes," said Clark.

Students and parents will be able to communicate with teachers via email and phone.

"We're trying to figure that out now," said Clark, of the phone option, noting that's just one of the "new and unprecedented" issues facing educators.

She also said that the new style of learning will offer more opportunities to show improvement, while still meeting state learning standards.

In the rural district where every student does not have internet access, getting the lessons out and work returned is even more of a challenge.

Right now, pick up is being offered at the schools and those who can't get there can even get their work dropped off on Wednesdays, when the district loads 7,000 meals onto busses to deliver to its students who can't get to the schools.

"We're basically feeding anyone 18 and under," said Clark.

Jefferson School principal Andria Murrah spent part of her Monday teaching her staff to navigate "Google Hangout," something she said most had never done.

She was also teaching them remotely.

"We spent the weekend going back and forth working on everything," said Murrah, noting that parents and students were giving positive feedback and engaging in the learning process.

Washington School principal Josh Pietrantoni said that parents and students from his school had also been positive about the new learning process.

"They're almost all engaged and working from home," he said. He and Murrah both had high praise for their teachers as they navigate the new learning model.

"They are doing a good job of providing continuous education for all students," said Pietrantoni.

Clark said for now, her district employees will continue to do what they can to keep students engaged and learning with as little stress as possible.

"We want to stay connected with our students," she said. "This situation has upended everything. We just want our kids to have some normalcy in their lives."

Educators from Johnston City's Jefferson School were set up in the student drop off zone to collect work and provide new learning materials on Monday. Holly Kee photo
Washington School principal Josh Pietrantoni, back center, supervises as students and parents drop off last week's homework packet at the Johnston City school on Monday. Holly Kee photo