Highland board evaluates distance learning practices

The Highland Native Faculties Board of Training held a digital assembly June 29 and mentioned data gathered from a survey relating to the district’s distance studying program after faculties have been pressured to shut in March as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
Superintendent Catherine Aukerman mentioned the survey was emailed to all district dad and mom, with greater than 1,000 dad and mom responding. She mentioned roughly 85 % of oldsters agreed college students may full their weekly assignments. She mentioned 36 % of scholars throughout all college buildings labored on schoolwork for 2 to 3 hours per day, whereas 24 % labored one to 2 hours per day and 22 % labored three to 4 hours per day.
Aukerman mentioned 53 % of respondents consider the scholars obtained a good quantity of educational display time, whereas 28 % thought they’d an excessive amount of and 19 % thought they’d too little. She mentioned most dad and mom and guardians have been finally in a position to adapt to their youngsters’s distance studying, reporting almost 70 % agreed this system was straightforward to handle after it began. The superintendent added roughly 28 % of oldsters thought the workload demand was truthful and college students may handle their assignments daily, however 28 % have been barely overwhelmed and 23 % have been barely underwhelmed. She mentioned 77 % of oldsters and guardians agreed the academics offered well timed assist and suggestions to their college students, particularly the elementary college academics.
Aukerman mentioned 68 % of scholars all through the district participated in videoconferences with their academics one to 3 occasions per week, whereas solely about three % had every day videoconferences. She mentioned regardless of the challenges from distance studying, 68 % of oldsters and guardians mentioned they appreciated having an internet connection to the varsity district. Nevertheless, 47 % of oldsters mentioned maintaining college students and engaged was tough, whereas 49 % mentioned it was not a lot of a problem.
General, Aukerman mentioned, 64 % of individuals have been happy with Highland’s distance studying program, whereas 36 % have been dissatisfied with it.
Concerning the reopening of the colleges within the fall, she mentioned 45 % of individuals have been in favor of reopening inside the very best well being tips.
Laurie Boedicker, Highland’s director of curriculum, defined each dad and mom and academics shared the identical considerations, together with college students falling behind and never with the ability to retain the knowledge they discovered throughout this time. She additionally mentioned how academics are being educated in utilizing numerous types of expertise in several situations.
Aukerman mentioned the board is now awaiting steering from the Ohio Division of Well being relating to the reopening of faculties this fall.
In different enterprise, board member Chris Wolny introduced the Highland Basis and the Highland Alumni Affiliation is internet hosting a digital model of the Hornet Sprint now by July 31. He mentioned the race could possibly be run anytime at any location throughout that point. He mentioned the muse has set a objective to run a mixed complete of two,zero20 miles to honor the Class of 2020. For extra particulars or to register, go to www.highlandfoundation.org/hornetdash.
Aukerman additionally offered an replace on the development of the brand new elementary college buildings and the renovation of the Highland Center College constructing. She mentioned the concrete basis on the new Granger Elementary College website has been accomplished. She added a driveway for building automobiles is being added from Ridge Highway to the longer term website of Sharon Elementary College.
Aukerman additionally reported the heating, air flow and air-con system is being added to the Highland Center College constructing along with the continuation of roofing repairs. She mentioned she hopes to have a digital tour of the brand new college buildings prepared on the subsequent board assembly.
Amongst gadgets the board accredited have been the next:
• ultimate amended appropriations for the 2020 fiscal yr;
• short-term appropriations for the 2021 fiscal yr;
• institution of the Elementary and Secondary College Emergency Aid Fund and the Governor’s Emergency Training Aid Fund;
• authorization of Dwelling Financial savings Financial institution as a chosen depository for the district’s lively and interim funds for the interval ending Aug. 23, 2021;
• authorization for the treasurer to finish and submit the mandatory documentation to the Ohio Public Workers Deferred Compensation Program to supply district staff with the power to contribute to the plan;
• adoption of the district’s English/language arts, statistics and pc functions textbooks, as offered by Boedicker;
• a decision providing cost in lieu of transportation for college students for whom transportation is impractical for specified causes for the 2020-21 college yr;
• the adoption of center and elementary college charges for the 2020-21 college yr;
• Highland Athletic Boosters season passes and banner sponsorship applications for the 2020-21 college yr; and
• use of services and waiving of related charges for numerous features.
The following assembly is presently set for July 20 at 7 p.m. within the Media Middle at Highland Excessive College, 4150 Ridge Highway. For location updates, go to www.highlandschools.org.