The Lakeland School System (LSS) announced Friday (3.27.20) remote learning resources will be implemented for the System because of COVID-19 closures.
Dr. Ted Horrell, LSS superintendent, provided specific information about the LSS plans for providing online resources while school is out to limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
“We are so proud of our teachers and students for the flexibility and positivity they have displayed during this time.”
And, he added, “We miss you.”
Schools are to be closed through at least April 24th, although for operational planning, Dr. Horrell anticipates schools may be closed for the rest of the 2019-20 school year to limit the spread of the virus.
Lakeland School System is sensitive to the various ways in which this situation is impacting families and students, and our goal is to balance our desire for students to stay on track in their learning with the realities of the challenges for many families to support learning from home, said Dr. Horrell.
This means that, for the purposes of state reporting, school days we are out for the remainder of the year will be classified as “missed instructional days” and there will not be attendance taken, grades taken, or any REQUIREMENTS for students to participate in remote learning while schools are out, said Dr. Horrell.
“While requiring online participation, attendance, etc. is an option, we feel that the tremendous and unusual levels of stress in homes right now would impact the ability of students to complete and be held accountable for formal lessons and assessments no matter how effectively they were shared.
“We are also sensitive to the fact that our own teachers and educators are also at home, in many cases caring for their own families. As such, we’ve made the decision that holding teachers and students accountable for the same levels of teaching and learning that we would find in a regular school year is unreasonable and is not in the best interest of our students and families.”
The optional remote learning activities will begin Wednesday (4.1.20) with LSS following any and all recommendations from Gov. Bill Lee’s office regarding how long to suspend classes.
Dr. Horrell noted that The Tennessee Legislature General Assembly voted March 19th to waive the 180-day attendance requirement for Tennessee schools in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Local education agencies (or school systems) now have flexibility in determining how to proceed with when to reopen schools, requirements for current students, finalization of grades, and the use of remote learning from home while schools are closed.”
Based on the current and anticipated realities of this evolving situation, LSS is moving forward with a six-point approach. Link to the document:
https://bit.ly/lss-remote-learning-info
