From Staff Reports
Students in Okarche Public Schools have the option of choosing virtual learning for the spring semester.
At the beginning of the new year and spring semester, there had been 13 students in the district opt for virtual, distance learning.
The spring semester started Monday, Jan. 4 with in-person learning and virtual learning.
Enrollment figures available, Tuesday, Jan. 5, showed the district had 378 students enrolled. There were 212 students in grades pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, 77 students in grades seventh through ninth in the junior high school, and 89 students grades 10 through 12 in the high school.
There were two elementary students enrolled in virtual learning and 11 students in the junior high and high school who are taking virtual learning classes from home.
Parents or guardians were asked to contact the school the student attends to sign up for virtual learning.
The fall semester in August opened with in-person learning. A virtual-learning option was included for the spring semester after Superintendent Josh Sumrall and staff members talked to parents and people in the community about which direction to take.
Okarche Schools made it through most of the fall semester in-person but then went to virtual learning before Christmas break.
Those who opted for virtual learning did not need to go to schools Monday and they could contact their school on Monday to notify administrators of their choice, Sumrall said.
“Navigating through the first semester allowed school officials to evaluate some procedures that need to be adjusted for the second semester,” Sumrall reported in a letter to district patrons.
Sumrall explained the options for the second semester in the letter, that was also posted on social media.
“Teachers and students struggled with students going back and forth between learning platforms. Therefore, Jan. 4, parents and students will be given the option between virtual learning and in-person learning,” Sumrall reports.
Sumrall said the options will be in place until March 11. Then the same options will be available for the last part of the spring semester.
“Obviously, if a student is mandated to quarantine for COVID-19 exposure or a positive COVID-19 test, virtual learning will be the learning platform during quarantine time.
“As soon as the quarantine time has expired, the student will continue with the previously selected learning option.”
Sumrall said the administration and school board members decided to recommend masks but not to require masks with a mandate. He said the board and administrators respect both sides of the mask issue.
“We ask everyone to have a mask/face covering on them to use when unavoidable social distancing is not possible. Social distancing whenever possible and daily disinfecting will continue.”
Sumrall said people can contact a school administrator if they feel a student or family has a unique situation that needs to be addressed separately.
“We hope to navigate through the second semester of school as best as possible as we all try to overcome the current pandemic,” Sumrall said.
