Carson City Schools: ‘We’re doing everything we possibly can to not go remote’
While COVID-19 cases have been and continue to rise throughout the region, the Carson City School District is committed to keeping students in class.
“The best way for teachers to teach and students to learn has always been in an in-person, face-to-face environment,” said Dan Davis of the Carson City School District. “We are doing everything we possibly can not to get into a situation where we would need to back to full remote or distance learning.”
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t current challenges that administration, teachers and students are facing.
For example, there were multiple days in January that all bus services within the school district were suspended due to too many bus drivers being out sick with COVID-19.
Teachers and administrators have had to fill in for each other on multiple occasions, whether it means teachers forfeiting their prep periods in order to sub for a coworkers class, or lending a hand in the kitchen; even Superintendent Richard Stokes has had to fill in for lunch duty.
"Our principals and teachers have really stepped-up during these challenging times,” said Davis. “We have amazing people who work within this school district.”
Despite these hardships, however, the school district endeavors to keep their doors open. While there are no current statistical data on performances of students during remote/hybrid periods versus in-class due to the inability to obtain the usual metrics for academic performance, Davis states that remote/hybrid learning was difficult for both teachers and students alike.
In order to keep schools open during this surge in cases, classrooms with high levels of cases or absences are being quarantined on a case-by-case basis.
“The district is working closely with Health and Human Services to determine when a quarantine is warranted per classroom,” said Davis.
Some classrooms have already been quarantined for a 5-day quarantine due to COVID-19 cases and exposures.
Teachers are being encouraged to come up with contingency lesson plans in case a 5-day quarantine is warranted, whether that be sending students home with chrome books, pre-made lesson packets, or other ways to learn remotely.
“We definitely don’t want to have teachers working when they’re sick, even from home,” said Davis.
At this time, the district has no plans to go remote.
“These are not ideal situations, and hopefully the circumstances are temporary,” said Davis. “But we are making it work. Our teachers and employees are the real heroes throughout all of this."