A month into school year, MFL MarMac board discusses concerns, solutions
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
MFL MarMac will continue with its hybrid learning model—on-site instruction on Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday and virtual learning on Wednesdays—through at least winter break. Superintendent Dale Crozier made the recommendation at the school board’s Sept. 14 meeting.
Virtual Wednesdays “are working now,” he stated. “Ironically, we thought we were going to have issues, that the virtual day was going to be the toughest part, but our students and teachers have been able to manage.”
The first month of school, according to administrators, has been about working together through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re going into a place in education that’s new to everybody,” said high school principal Larry Meyer. “We’re finding our way.”
“We’re learning each and every day. The kids are working right with us,” added McGregor Center principal Denise Mueller.
Crozier said he’s met with the district’s principals and several teachers to assess the situation so far. The group discussed a Google Doc staff have weighed in on with concerns and potential solutions.
One of the biggest concerns, noted school board president Gina Roys, was a lack of transition time for teachers between classes. Time has been spent cleaning, leaving hallways—where it’s difficult for students to social distance—unsupervised. A solution could include having middle and high school students clean their desks.
Education on wearing masks was also mentioned. It’s currently only required on school buses, but students are encouraged to wear them during the day. Crozier said the district is in a tough spot because the issue has become politicized.
“If we required masks, we’re going to have an absolute problem. If we don’t require masks at all, we’re going to have an absolute problem,” he remarked.
The biggest discussion, however, centered around use of the district’s online learning management systems, Canvas and Seesaw, and educating students who are full-time virtual learners. The district currently has around 30 total, and any students who are quarantined due to COVID-19 will access the sites for remote instruction until they can safely return to in-person classes.
That aspect has increased teacher workload, requiring them to serve three roles: classroom teacher, online teacher and distance learning facilitator.
“The majority of staff have stepped up and accepted that challenge and are really working hard,” Roys said. “The reasonable workload goes right along with that. There’s nothing that’s reasonable in a pandemic.”
With their time stretched thin, though, board member Tonya Meyer wondered if teachers can give online students the attention—and education—they need.
“We don’t have any other options,” Crozier responded. “I don’t know of any school that doesn’t have a learning management system.”
“In the mandate from the governor, you have an option to virtually learn, so we have to reach the kids who are virtual. We had an additional 58 children a couple days ago who are virtually learning [due to quarantine], and we have to have a management system for them,” he added. “Everyone deserves a free and appropriate public education. We have to provide the best possible solution. We have to put children first in all our decisions.”
In his opinion, Crozier felt the kids learning 100 percent on Canvas are not getting “near the education as the kids who are coming to school.” Online learning is harder and less effective, he acknowledged, than face to face instruction.
Some students, including one from the middle school and several at the elementary level, who started the school year completely online are transitioning back into in-person classes.
To make the virtual component easier, Crozier said some parents need to take more responsibility, rather than solely relying on teachers. MFL MarMac is also facilitating training sessions on Canvas, Seesaw and other online resources.
“I want to offer a couple two-hour early outs on Mondays, just to give the teachers more time to work with virtual learning techniques. People are at different levels along their journey,” stated Crozier.
Staff from Keystone AEA, as well as more proficient teachers at MFL MarMac, are helping with this.
Near the end of the meeting, Meyer asked if she could hear directly from some of the roughly a dozen teachers present, to get their take on the start of the year.
“You’re not in the room, going through this experience yourself. For me, it would be useful to hear what their day is like. It would be helpful to understand what those issues are,” she told the other board members.
The school board president, Roys, declined the request, however, stating teacher comments can be reserved for Wednesday meetings or the Google Doc.
“This list is a starting point,” said board member Jonathon Moser. “I hope conversations continue with people on your committees, with each other, with administrators. Then bring that information to us, and hopefully we can come up with a solution to get the kids the best education we can with the least amount of worry.”
He acknowledged the year has been a roller coaster, and some people are handling it better than others.
“We need to reach out to each other and know we went into our professions with a passion and a love. Right now, they suck,” he commented. “We’re going to get through it, but it’s muddy. I hope everyone can process what they’re dealing with in this time right now. It’s not going to be forever.”
