by Anne Scheck

LACK of INTERNET ACCESS FOR SOME STUDENTS: MINET’s ROLE
As local students collect district-issued Chromebooks for distance learning, elected officials and school administrators agree that it’s time to provide internet access to every child who lacks it. The coronavirus pandemic has brought this need into stark relief, according to concerns expressed Monday at the meeting of the Central District 13J School Board.
 
As the district makes sure the technology is available for new options after the loss of classroom teaching, “we want to be able to be sure to engage children,” said Superintendent Jennifer Kubista EdD. Facebook postings and school websites are helping to get messages out quickly, noted Steve Love, who chairs the school board. However, that requires internet access.
 
Out of luck are families that depend on the Independence Library to sign on to WIFI – it’s now closed with no opening date in sight; And, on the rural outskirts of town, those who once seized spotty connections now seem shortchanged in the shift to online learning. The issue also was raised at a town forum held last night by Rep. Paul Evans, whose district includes Independence. 
 
Mr. Evans said he's aware of the pressing need, and explained that this was one reason MINET was built by the cities of Independence and Monmouth more than a decade ago. One answer may be “cellular-on-wheels” technology, he said, which are mobile cell stations transported on trucks to outlying areas. Ruth Miles, director of the corporation division for the Oregon Secretary of State, suggested 5G might be one rescue strategy – it’s the latest generation of wireless technology. 
 
However, MINET – in partnership with Central School District and the cities of Independence and Monmouth – has “authorized, engaged and is driving professional engineering studies” to answer this need, according to Don Patten, MINET’s general manager.  “These fast-tracked studies will determine realistic and effective proposals, based upon MINET’s suite of technologies, to aid the school district with their described needs to reach many of the unfortunate ‘data have-nots’ among its student body,” he said.  
 
At a news conference this past week, the lack of internet access to some student populations was cited as a significant problem by both Gov. Kate Brown and Colt Gill, director of the Oregon Department of Education. There are “wide swaths” of the state without the technology, Mr. Gill said. The need is expected to be addressed at a future legislative session, according to Gov. Brown. 

CHS SENIORS TO GET SPECIAL ATTENTION 
Even before the director of the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) announced this week that struggling seniors “not on track” for graduation should be a focal point for local educators during school closure, Central School District 13J was gearing up to make these students a priority.   
 
At a news conference where the governor confirmed that schools would not reopen this spring, ODE Director Colt Gill called for “circling around every student who’s failing one of the required courses” needed to clinch a diploma. In fact, those students already were a point of discussion at the last school board meeting – a concern emphasized in a follow-up news release. “For those who do not have a passing grade as of mid-March, the district will focus its efforts to get these seniors any extra attention they need to get them across the finish line,” said Superintendent Jennifer Kubista EdD in the prepared statement.  
 
The counseling team at Central High School (CHS) is planning to call seniors and their families to talk to them “after we have had an opportunity to review transcripts under the new guidance from ODE,” which was recently released, added CHS Principal Donna Servignat. 
 
“Teachers want to connect with their students in order to help them with all of the uncertainty and further their learning as best as we can,” said Adrienne Gault, president of the Central Education Association and a teacher at Talmadge Middle School. 
 
At the school board meeting Monday, Dr. Kubista noted that seniors will miss springtime milestones important to every CHS graduate, but none more so than the walk across a stage in a cap and gown. She wants to try to make that happen, she said, perhaps in a “virtual” way that would share the event via computer technology or by prolonging the date far enough into the future to allow a traditional ceremony. Meanwhile, CHS stadium lights are scheduled to be turned on nightly to honor the 2020 senior class.
 
“I hope the plan to graduate our seniors, and our continued commitment to learning, removes some of the stress of uncertainty for our students and our families,” said Gov. Kate Brown, in a joint address this week with ODE.

A FINAL NOTE
Polk County Fire District No. 1 and the Independence Police Department are partnering to provide programs aimed at stay-at-home students missing their usual school routine. Children celebrating birthdays can sign up to have a "flashing light" visit from a fire truck and police car on their special day, by logging on to the fire district's website and registering. A "Funtastic" mini-parade is held every Friday, in which a trailer with favorite story characters winds through neighborhoods – today it was Elsa and Olaf from "Frozen." In addition, the fire district is posting weekly videos that deliver a variety of safety messages for kids.

by Anne Scheck

SCHOOL DISTRICT READIES FOR “DISTANCE LEARNING”
Central School District 13J is gearing up for online “distance learning” that would send class lessons out to parents, put Chromebooks in the hands of students and seek more WIFI availability for rural areas, Superintendent Jennifer Kubista EdD said Monday night. 
 
Though there’s a likely possibility that school closure will continue past the end of April, perhaps without reopening during the current academic year, “the governor hasn’t said that,” Dr. Kubista stressed. “So, I’m asking everyone to be patient,” she said, adding that “I cannot say thank you enough.” Many of the board members attended the meeting remotely by internet link-up. 
 
“I am thinking of the mom who is a nurse and might leave for the shift at 7 pm,” she said – then faces helping to home-school children after she returns. “I am thinking of the dad who has just been laid off,” she added, noting that the challenge of helping with in-home teaching is tough on parents under circumstances that are “unprecedented.”   
 
Chromebooks, a user-friendly screen-plus-keypad, is a tool being distributed by the district this week, as are “learning packets.” A unit on social-emotional subject matter was sent out the first week in April; the second one includes more academic topics, such as math and reading. A distance-learning draft plan is slated for completion by the end of this week, Dr. Kubista said. 

Central High School (CHS) is the focus of initial, intense efforts – students at CHS need to accrue credits to move toward graduation, she pointed out. “We are hoping that the guidance for high school comes this week,” Dr. Kubista said, an apparent reference to the need for information from the Oregon Department of Education. 

Computer accessibility, including deployment of Chromebooks, is a pressing priority for everyone, Dr, Kubista stated. Since many families have access to their own laptops and tablets, “I think we will have enough” Chromebooks for all who lack the technology, she said. A simple, step-by-step guide for using the Chromebooks will be attached to each, she added. 

For students who live in rural residences where internet is “spotty” or non-existent, the district has compiled a “tech savvy team” who will try to address that problem, among others, she said. 

The online education will be a combination of teacher-led learning and family involvement, she said. Dr. Kubista praised everyone – from the custodians who are responsible for sanitizing buildings to the union leaders who have shown both "leadership and flexibility." The effort has “just been amazing” and it’s coming from everyone, she said, emphasizing that staff members, teachers, teacher’s aides and administrators worked tirelessly over the past few weeks.  

Board Chair Steve Love said Dr. Kubista should be commended, as well. “I’d like to thank the superintendent for leading us in uncharted water and keeping our kids a priority,” Mr. Love said.

OTHER ACTIONS:
District to buy property at 16th Street and Hoffman Road. School board members approved the purchase of 2.6 acres across the street from Ash Creek Elementary School, with an eye toward future growth. The money was taken from an existing fund. The current building at the site has a full kitchen and other amenities. Asked by two board members why another facility is needed when Henry Hill Elementary School was converted to office space several years ago, Board Chair Steve Love said: “I think we can continue to look at Henry Hill,” if school populations continue to swell.  

Grab-and-go meals increase for those across district. In mid-March, the school district provided breakfast-lunch meal packs for 541 students. By week three, that number had grown to 816. The meals are being given out at different school locations.

Chemeketa partnership likely – and pending. A planned partnership agreement between Chemeketa Community College and the school district is likely, but it’s apparently on hold due to the coronavirus crisis. “We will continue those conversations,” said Dr. Kubista. 

FOR THE FAMILIES FEELING STRAIN… 
As calls to law enforcement increase for incidents that seem to be caused by emotional stress – up by 20% or more, according to one official estimate – parents and others can find help at Polk County Behavioral Health services, said Kristty Polanco MPH, public health administrator at Polk County Health Services. Anyone feeling overwhelmed and in need of counseling can call 503-623-9289, she said.  The link to the webpage for related information is https://www.co.polk.or.us/bh.
 
And, as the weeks of shelter-in-place drag on, there appears to be “light at the end of the tunnel,” observed Craig Pope, a member of the Polk County Board of Commissioners. He and Mike Ainsworth, who chairs the commission, agreed that people’s adherence to social distancing and other control measures seem to be paying off – a view echoed by Rep. Paul Evans. “Based on current modeling, Oregon is staying below our hospital, ICU and ventilator capacity,” according to a news release issued today by Rep. Evans. The information “brings hope” that the stay-home-and-save-lives order is working, he stated.