By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
New Okarche Schools Superintendent Josh Sumrall has already made his first big decision for the district in his first week of school.
Sumrall has announced Okarche students will return to classes in classrooms on campus this fall. The first day of school will be Thursday, Aug. 13.
Okarche, like other schools statewide, shutdown in spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Administrators at other Canadian and Kingfisher counties schools are still reviewing plans for the fall, and Okarche is one of the first locally to announce the return to buildings.
Sumrall, who started work in Okarche July 1, previously served as superintendent in Coyle Schools.
The reaction to the reopening announcement in Okarche has been in favor of the decision, Sumrall said.
“We have had positive feedback, nothing negative,” Sumrall said. “It has all been pretty positive, so I think everybody is ready to get back to normal.”
The district, that is in both Canadian and Kingfisher counties, has about 400 students currently enrolled.
Patrons are encouraged to enroll their children if they have not already. The total enrollment for the elementary grades will determine if a new teacher is needed, Sumrall said.
Okarche Schools will not offer students an option of taking classes online through more distance learning.
However, teachers will continue to review their plan for online, distance learning in case there is another school shutdown, Sumrall said.
He said he plans to talk to principals and teachers to find out what some of the problems were with distance learning in the spring.
“If we do have to have a shutdown and have to go back to distance learning we will find out what we need to do,” Sumrall said.
During the spring, some issues with internet service in outlying areas came up during the shutdown, said former Superintendent Rob Friesen. Friesen resigned to accept the superintendent’s post at Thomas-Fay-Custer Schools.
Sumrall said the COVID-19 situation and data will continued to be reviewed.
He said the Okarche Schools buildings are prepared for students.
