Q&A with Superintendent Hall

As a follow up to the release of the Willow Springs R-IV School District’s reopening plan for Fall 2020, many parents were left with questions. The following are questions submitted to Superintendent Bill Hall on behalf of the parents of the Willow Springs School District. 

If you are a parent and you have more questions, submit them to the editor at editor@howellcountynews.com. Responses below attributed to Bill Hall have not been edited. 

 

 

Q:What happens if a child sitting next to mine tests positive for COVID-19?  Do all of my children have to quarantine? 

 

Bill Hall: It depends on the situation.  We will be working closely with the Howell County Health Department with contact tracing in the event of a positive test by any student or staff member.

 

 

Q: Last year the e-learning was "not quality education" which is why students received a pass for the semester.  How will this year's e-learning/AMI meet the "quality" standard?

 

Bill Hall: This year, as noted in the Reentry Plan, we will be following Alternative Methods of Instruction that have been approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  In the event of a school closure due to Covid-19, we will be using a program called Canvas to provide distance learning to students via the internet.  Last year the onset of the school closure did not provide us adequate time for preparation.  We have designated a distance learning leader at each grade level and content area who are already working with other teachers designing lessons so we are ready to provide this distance learning opportunity to students as of the first day of school.  Isolated students who may need to miss school due to Covid related issues, but without school closing, will be placed on homebound and provided this same distance learning instruction.  There will be more accountability with assessing student performance and assigning grades based on student growth.  There will also be a greater expectation that students actually complete the work assigned as they will be receiving grades.

 

 

Q: What health information will be shared with the Health Department?  Will you get the parents' permission before sharing this information?

 

Bill Hall: We are still working with the Health Department as far as sharing information with them.  It will not be anything other than contract tracing information to assist them in identifying possible exposures.  We are still awaiting guidance from the state health department to the county health department on the process of sharing information between school districts and health departments.  It may be that we may not need to have parents' permission; however, parents will be contacted if information is shared with the health department.