MPHS starts mandatory online learning

Kindergarten through eighth-grade distance classes will remain optional

Posted 4/15/20

With schools closed through April 30, Mid-Prairie High School began mandatory online instruction this week.

Principal Jay Strickland explained the district’s decision to opt for mandatory …

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MPHS starts mandatory online learning

Kindergarten through eighth-grade distance classes will remain optional

Posted

With schools closed through April 30, Mid-Prairie High School began mandatory online instruction this week.

Principal Jay Strickland explained the district’s decision to opt for mandatory learning for the high school in a letter to parents on Monday.

“Our main reason for going required at the high school is to provide students an opportunity to earn credit for courses,” Strickland said. “This will allow students the opportunity to stay on track with credits and not fall behind in their academic progress.”

At Monday night’s school board meeting, Superintendent Mark Schneider said that Mid-Prairie High School is one of 42 high schools in the state opting for mandatory distance learning.

Strickland said that classes would be graded as pass/fail rather than the usual letter grades.

He said many other schools are doing the same, and the pass/fail grades would not impact students’ grade point averages.

Board Vice President Jeremy Pickard said that some schools are giving students the choice to opt for letter grades or pass/fail.

“We felt our students weren’t mature enough to make that decision,” Strickland said.

Strickland said he and the high school faculty spent much of last week creating a schedule for online instruction.

His letter to parents included a schedule for Zoom – an online videoconferencing application – meetings for students and teachers.

“Please note that this will not occur daily and that the number of Zoom meetings will depend on the course and teacher,” Strickland said. “The purpose of the schedule is to provide “protected” time for teachers to meet with students.

“Teachers will be using a variety of resources and options to provide learning during this time. Some teachers may schedule time outside of this schedule for office hours and to provide additional support.”

Strickland told board members that teachers would be flexible in working with students, realizing that some have limited Internet access.

The district has procured Internet hot spots and is distributing them to families who have limited Internet access.

At Mid-Prairie Middle School, online instruction will remain optional, with one exception.

“High school Spanish will be treated as a high school course,” Principal Marc Pennington said.

He added that earning credits is not the focus of the middle school.

“We’re not chasing credits,” Pennington said. “It’s more about proficiency.”

Both East and West elementary schools also will have voluntary instruction.

“Our main priority has been connecting with students,” East Elementary Principal Robin Foster said.

West Elementary Principal Bill Poock said that teachers are focused on social and emotional development.

As of Tuesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds’ ordered school closures run through April 30.

“At this point, we are still planning and hoping to return to school after April 30 per the governor’s recent announcement regarding schools a couple of weeks ago,” Strickland wrote to parents.