CPS discusses success of online school
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia Public Schools Board of Education met Sept. 24 to discuss the possibility of hybrid learning and the success of online schooling.
This discussion came after the district's 14-day COVID-19 case tracker dropped below 50. As of Sunday, the 14-day rate dropped to 43.5 per 10,000 residents.
At the meeting, the assistant superintendent for secondary education, Dr. Jen Rukstad, said her colleague's virtual class engagement percentages were at 95-percent.
"We are educating our kids right now, the question of whether our students are in the building or not, it's not an unimportant question. However, it is not a dichotomous situation that when they are in the building they are now being educated," Rukstad said.
She said getting back in the building may not improve the students' educational experience.
However, CPS teacher, Katie Ann Sipho, said there are limitations to teaching online.
"Based on the amount of assignments that are returned on SeeSaw, I’d say schoology engages about half of my students right now," she said.
Several parents have also been struggling with the transition to virtual learning.
Jon Gabrielson, a former CPS parent, has switched his kids from virtual learning to home schooling.
"Most people seem to be leaving for the same reason I left, younger kids and parents with multiple kids can't handle the real-time zoom meetings and scheduling," Gabrielsson said. "If you are going to be home with your kids anyway, then it's easier to just homeschool them."
Gabrielson said the teachers are doing an amazing job, but the logistics made virtual learning too difficult.
He said some parents were struggling to get internet and had to find alternative solutions in order to participate in virtual learning.
"Others have to send their kids to a friend's house because of lack of internet," Gabrielson said.
CPS parent Mary Earnhart, has been using a hotspot from CPS since the start of school, but there have been some challenges.
"It's basically just a matter of us finding the perfect spot in our house that will connect to his iPad that will be close enough to stream through and work for him," she said.
She is hoping CPS decides to move towards a hybrid model. The board plans to discuss hybrid learning further in October.
