Pull the plug? With schools now closed through at least May 1, the traumatic switchover to online learning just getting started and many school districts scheduled to wrap up in late May anyway, some educators think it’s time to accept — as several other states already have — that schools will not be reopening before the next school year, if then. “Make the dang decision, for goodness sake,” said Susan Duval, a member of the Hillsborough County School Board. “Do I personally think we will have and implement eLearning from now until the close of the year?” asked Hillsborough Superintendent Addison Davis. “I think that’s a yes.” Palm Beach County has gone ahead and closed schools until further notice. Deputy superintendent Keith Oswald said the return dates keep bouncing around, keeping families from accepting a new routine. But others said it’s good to keep the hope of a return alive, especially for seniors who are looking forward to end-of-the-year celebrations and graduation. Pasco Superintendent Kurt Browning acknowledges there are valid arguments on both sides, but “our hope is that this will go back to normal.” Tampa Bay Times.
End-of-course exams: Florida students who are taking algebra 1 this year won’t ever have to pass the state’s end-of-course in order to graduate, according to a spokeswoman for the Department of Education. In a one-time offer, the state will instead allow those students to take the state geometry test to qualify for graduation. The state had already waived the test for high school seniors. Gradebook.
Graduations, somehow: Escambia County school Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said on Thursday that the district will hold graduation ceremonies, even if they have to be pushed to July. “At this point, it doesn’t look like it’s very hopeful that we would hold a commencement at the end of May,” Malcolm Thomas said. “But I have said since the beginning, we’re going to do whatever we can do to make sure a graduation ceremony is held. We will do something to make sure we honor our seniors who’ve spent their life thus far preparing for that moment where they can walk across a stage in a cap and gown, have a picture taken and receive a diploma.” Pensacola News Journal. St. Johns County Superintendent Tim Forson said that traditional high school graduation ceremonies have been canceled, but that “virtual” ceremonies are being planned and will be announced later. WJXT. WJAX. St. Augustine Record.
Stay-at-home confusion: Local officials around the state said they are confused by what is allowed and what is not in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ stay-at-home order. DeSantis originally said the state order trumps all local orders, then on Thursday he said, “If some folks want to do things more, then they can do more in certain situations. We want to work with the local folks.” But some local officials pointed out that, for example, their governments had closed churches, which DeSantis said isn’t permitted. State Rep. Michael Greico, whose district includes Miami Beach, said he and others were “more confused now than we were a few hours ago. … My reading of the order is that local governments cannot be more restrictive than his order. Then he goes into the press conference and essentially says the exact opposite.” Miami Herald. Tampa Bay Times. Sun Sentinel. Florida Politics. Florida Today. Gainesville Sun. WTSP. USA Today Network. WUSF. WTVT. What are the differences between “stay-at-home” and “safer-at-home” orders? WFTS. What is considered essential? WEAR.
Closing up to all: School district teachers and other employees in Broward, Leon and Marion counties who had still been working in their schools will start working from home, officials in those districts announced this week, and all schools except those serving as food distribution sites will close. “Tomorrow (meaning Friday), teachers can visit their classrooms to retrieve materials pertinent to their profession,” according to a press release from the Marion County School District. “No teachers or support staff will be on any campus to abide by the governor’s ‘safer-at-home’ order through April 30.” WPLG. WCTV. Ocala Star-Banner.
Online education: The Bay County School Board approved a district proposal to rent 600 hot spots for $206,460 to help students access the Internet for online schooling. Half the hot spots are from Verizon and will cost $111,960 for 10 months, and half are from T-Mobile at a cost of $94,500 for 12 months. Panama City News Herald. WJHG. Brevard County school Superintendent Mark Mullins said student participation has increased every day since online learning began Monday, and that teachers have virtual lessons planned through the scheduled end of the school year. WKMG. Periodic connectivity issues continue for some Monroe County students, school district officials said. Key West Citizen. Low-income students from already-struggling schools risk falling further behind their peers because of inequity issues, say Hillsborough County officials. Tampa Bay Times. The rush to move to online education has created a shortage of Chromebooks, iPads and other electronic devices. Education Week. U.S. school districts are struggling to decide how students should be graded during the coronavirus crisis. Education Week. How teachers of hand’s-on subjects, such as physical education and career classes like welding, are innovating to instruct students. The 74. A North Port mother who lives in an area with substandard Internet service worries that her children will fall behind in their education without a quick upgrade. Charlotte Sun. Teachers get creative to make their educational points online to students at the private Pace Brantley School for students with special needs in Longwood. redefinED.
FLVS branches out: The Florida Virtual School is now operating the Alaska Statewide Virtual School under a $525,000 contract. The new Alaska online school will offer K-12 courses that are available to all districts but not mandatory, state education officials said. The statewide teachers union was surprised by the move. “I’m disappointed that there was no effort to collaborate with Alaska teachers prior to this rollout,” said Tim Parker, the head of the National Education Association-Alaska. “I can’t imagine a Florida teacher will be able to connect and understand the unique needs of Alaska kids.” Anchorage Daily News.
More on the coronavirus: The Immokalee Foundation is continuing to provide its support programs and resources for students through virtual means. Fort Myers News-Press. Future Farmers of America and 4-H students in Lake County are scrambling to find ways to show and sell their animals. Daily Commercial. A man exposed himself to a student after hacking into an online class at Wolf Lake Middle School in Orange County. Police are investigating. Associated Press. WKMG. School districts and other organizations continue to feed low-income students while schools are closed. Florida Department of Agriculture. Florida Department of Education. Daily Commercial. TCPalm. Naples Daily News. Citrus County Chronicle. Charlotte Sun. WPTV.
Extending spring sports: State high school athletic directors have begun a discussion of what an extended spring sports season would look like. The Florida High School Athletic Association suggested this week that extending the delayed season until June 30 was an option. At this point, the athletic directors said during a conference call with the FHSAA this week, there are more questions than answers about how that could work. Another FHSAA suggestion, of extending spring sports athletes’ eligibility if the season is canceled, was widely dismissed. “I think the consensus between all ADs is we don’t want it,” said Matt Wicks of Pasco County. “We don’t want that extra year of eligibility. We just want to move on because that’s what we feel is best for our students.” Tampa Bay Times. Lakeland Ledger.
High school opening delayed: A contract problem is pushing the opening of Destin High School back to the fall of 2021, school officials said. The school had a deal to buy Destin United Methodist Church to use as a campus, but the sale was contingent on that church buying the Grace Lutheran Church campus. That deal fell through, delaying the opening of the charter school. Negotiations with the churches will continue, but school officials will also consider other sites. Northwest Florida Daily News. WMBB. WJHG.
Opinions on schools: Online learning is going to push poorer students further behind the more affluent during the coronavirus crisis. Tara Chadwick, Sun Sentinel. We do not need to pretend that we will be providing an adequate, uniform, safe, secure, efficient, high quality public education to our students. We will continue to support them and enrich them as much as possible, but that is the effective limit of the education system at this time. Scott Hottenstein, Orlando Sentinel. A special session of the Florida Legislature to deal with the coronavirus crisis is likely imminent. And when it happens, drastic cuts will have to be made in the $93.2 billion budget legislators approved. Jon Costello, Florida Politics. Florida school systems aren’t just having to figure out how to complete the 2019-20 educational year via distance learning, given the closure of their buildings. They’ve had to find ways to feed kids, and they’ve stepped up righteously. Northwest Florida Daily News.
Student enrichment: A group of kindergarten students from Gorrie Elementary School in Tampa are writing letters and sending pictures to people in Tampa Bay area nursing homes. WTSP.
