On Tuesday, the school board had its first online-only meeting during which administrators reported on how the remote-learning programs were working for the 15,000 students sent home when all schools closed three weeks ago. “We have spent the past three weeks reorganizing ourselves for remote learning,” said Raul Ramirez, assistant superintendent of elementary education. The report shone light on both unexpected victories and challenges.
Elementary students, particularly those in preschool through 2nd grade, are one of the more difficult groups to teach remotely because they have less experience using technology for learning and, unlike older students, have not all received iPads through the district’s techEQUITY program.
Ramirez said that, though these younger students have been given print material, there is still a lot of work to be done. Shawn Carey, assistant superintendent of secondary education, emphasized that young students just learning to read can be hurt by not having face-to-face instruction from their teachers.