The EVSC Board of School Trustees tonight approved the state’s Virtual Option as the method for recovering learning time lost for four additional snow days not already included in the school calendar. The vote tonight, came after surveys were presented to parents, teachers, and staff. Parents selected the Virtual Option over all other options by more than 10 percentage points. Nearly 80 percent of those teachers and staff responding to the survey selected the virtual option.
The other options presented included making up the days for four additional days after Memorial Day, which garnered the next highest vote totals; during Spring Break; or on four Saturdays. While the survey was presented both through an audio poll through the EVSC’s family notification system, Connect-ED, and through an online survey – both of the surveys showed virtual as the preferred method.
Each EVSC school will communicate further details with its students and families following Spring Break.
In general, students will be given their lessons on Mondays each week. Students will engage in the virtual lessons throughout the week with support from teachers virtually. The actual make-up day will be counted by the state on the Saturdays of each week, and some schools may determine that they will have the building open for a period of time on those days.
Virtual Lessons Will be Distributed on:
April 6: Lessons will be given to students on April 6, and work will take place after school hours through April 11. Due Date will be Monday, April 13.
April 13: Lessons will be given to students on April 13, and work will take place after school hours through April 18. Due Date will be Monday, April 20.
April 20: Lessons will be given to students on April 20, and work will take place after school hours through April 25. Due Date will be Monday, April 27.
April 27: Lessons will be given to students on April 27, and work will take place after school hours through May 2. Due date will be Monday, May 4.
May 4: (McGary only) – Lessons will be given to students on Monday, May 4, and work will take place after school hours through May 9. Due date will be Monday, May 11.
During the “virtual†education time, the state requires that students engage in the lessons given to them by their teachers, just as they would on a normal school day – except that all or parts of the work involves accessing online learning systems or other Internet-related resources, as dictated by their teachers. Students will be able to interact with their teachers, through a variety of options such as using their Learning Management System, via email, telephone, Skype, Google Chat, etc. — however the teacher tells students will be the best way to reach him/her during the pre-determined learning time.
Options for how students do the work virtually have been provided so that families can select what is best for their child’s needs. Students may do the work on their own time, with their device and Internet at home or other locations. Or, students can make use of times the school building is open before and after school, and receive teacher support in those pre-determined times. Many of EVSC’s community partners have also offered their facilities WIFI and devices for student use.
Below is a partial list of EVSC’s community partners who have offered their facilities so that students can have access to computers and Internet. There are other partners that may be specific to certain schools not listed.
· The Boys and Girls Club
· The Dream Center
· Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library (all branches)
· YMCA
· Carver Community Center – Available Monday-Friday
· Local churches
“We know this is not the easiest way for teachers and staff to make up these snow days – but we believe it will be the most beneficial to benefit students’ as they move forward toward the end of the school year,†said Superintendent David Smith. “We wanted to maximize the learning opportunities for our children, and while adding on to the end of the year after Memorial Day would certainly be easier – we know that there is not much real learning that takes place after Memorial Day.â€
