Sumter School District superintendent, board: Timing was right to inform public of virtual plan
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Sumter may be the first of the state's 81 public school districts to formally make a decision to begin the year online, but district leaders say they think the timing was right and it's the right decision.
District Superintendent Penelope Martin-Knox and district school board Chairman Ralph Canty spoke this week with The Sumter Item after the trustees unanimously approved Martin-Knox's recommendation Monday to begin the upcoming school year on Aug. 17 in a virtual, online capacity.
Last month, the state Department of Education advised all school districts to make final decisions on the format of instruction for the fall term and communicate them with the public no later than 20 days - or basically three weeks - before the start of the school year. That timeframe gives districts until late this month to make final decisions and most are waiting now, according to the state agency's spokesperson, with hopes that COVID-19 cases decrease and that they can ultimately plan for in-person instruction.
Martin-Knox said quality, face-to-face instruction is very important and every educator's goal, but Sumter County's high virus case totals and current classification as a "high-risk community" by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control ultimately influenced her decision to begin online in August.
She noted that district online surveys last month of parents, staff, students and community members produced about 6,000 responses, but results were basically split 50/50 on whether to begin the school year in person or virtually.
The superintendent also added she doesn't think the district's decision on Monday at the special-called meeting was too early, given necessary planning purposes for families and schools.
"The state guidance wanted parents to have a plan in place 20 days prior to the start of the school," Martin-Knox said. "And with our start date scheduled for Aug. 17, I still believe that 20 days prior to that is not enough notice for parents - for work situations, for daycare situations or for whatever their circumstances may be."
Canty, the board chairman, also agreed it was best to make a decision now and be responsive to parents and the community in the long run.
"The state says that we must inform parents at least 20 days prior to the start of the school year of our plans," Canty said, "but given the circumstances of these times, we just did not think that was ample notice. And for that reason we had the special-called meeting, so that we could get notices out to families as quickly as possible."
MORE ON MONDAY'S MOVE
In Monday's decision, the district notified the public of the plan to go virtual without giving specific details of the plan.
The district is calling that plan a "re-entry plan," and given that coronavirus infections, hospitalization and deaths have soared in the last month across the state and in many parts of the U.S., a plan release date hasn't been determined as of yet, Martin-Knox said.
A district taskforce of 10 to 12 members, the Reopening Schools Task Force, is meeting every day on the re-entry plan and there are associated subgroups that include staff and community members, she added.
A key aspect of the taskforce's work currently is providing measures to enhance the district's online instruction from the spring semester. Principals, teachers and parents are providing input, she said.
MOVING TO A HYBRID MODEL
After starting virtually, the district wants to transition as soon as it's safely possible - based on evidence of lower infection rates and case counts - to a "hybrid model" with some students face to face in the classroom and some online.
By that time, some students will be fine for in-person instruction, but others with medical issues will have to remain in an online support setting for their well-being, Martin-Knox said.
Parents will also be surveyed again before a hybrid model begins on whether they intend to send their children back to school or if they wish to continue through the virtual, online approach. That will also help with classroom planning purposes, Martin-Knox said.
The superintendent closed by saying she appreciated the community's feedback through the previous surveys and is grateful that the Sumter community supports the district at this time.