Cloverdale School Board gives go-ahead for e-learning

CLOVERDALE -- As the halfway point of the school year looms, Cloverdale Community Schools will soon see a schedule change as technology is further implemented with e-learning days.

Patrick Rady and Megan Puckett of CCSC’s Technology Integration Committee gave a presentation on what this change will entail during the Cloverdale School Board’s regular session Monday evening. This preceded a request to approve a new handbook setting out expectations for both teachers and students.

Rady began that e-learning days, which will allow teachers to post assignments through Google Classroom, bring benefit to students in familiarizing them with tasks online. As such, they are being implemented by area school districts to prepare students for similar work after high school.

Rady added that e-learning days cover situations like inclement weather and school-wide illnesses. He also said that online assignments would allow teachers and parents to hold conferences while students complete schoolwork. The board was positive about e-learning days also providing more opportunities for professional development.

Students will be expected to log in to Google Classroom and complete the assignments within four days of them being posted. In turn, teachers will be expected to be available to communicate with students from when they are posted at 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Rady said the committee found 93 percent of households polled in the corporation have internet-capable devices, with 83 percent having access. He added that wi-fi was available at various spots, including Endeavor Communications and the Cunot Community Center. Further, the four-day completion period would allow students to work on the assignments at school.

Puckett said Google Classroom was already being used by teachers, especially at the elementary level, and that students were familiar with how to use it. Indeed, they have already been assigned accounts to do similar work in the classroom.

To a question from board member Duane Huge about consecutive e-learning days, Superintendent Greg Linton said this would be figured out as the new scheme advances.

Huge also asked whether students could take devices like tablets home with them. Linton said they do not, as not incurring any associated costs helps keep book rentals lower.

Board President Vivian Whitaker also expressed concern about non-teaching staff like bus drivers and cafeteria aides working on e-learning days. Linton said they could open up opportunities for training, as well as time to do essential work such as cleanup and maintenance.

The board unanimously approved the e-learning handbook. The first trial run will come on Thursday, Nov. 14 and will be an in-school exercise.

The board also approved the school calendar for 2020-21. Linton added that the regular snow days will be retained as the e-learning days are tested. However, he said there was a prospect that the school year could begin later if they were eventually dropped.

In other business, the board approved donations to Cloverdale Elementary School, as well as grants for projects at Cloverdale Middle School, from the Mary Allison Children’s Trust. The body also approved community donations to Cloverdale High School.

Board members also recognized Cloverdale’s Students of the Month. Fourth-grader Carson Tyler represented Cloverdale Elementary School, eighth-grader Emily Mann came from Cloverdale Middle School and junior Kayla Kyle was honored by staff at Cloverdale High School.

The board also recognized eighth-grader Brinley Hardy as the middle school’s Student of the Month for September. She was unable to attend last month’s session.

With a rare dissent coming from board member Arvel Hinton, the board also approved the following personnel report:

• Resignation: David Zorman, high school media center;

• Medical leave: Anglea Kiste, elementary school special education teacher;

• Employment: Lisa Perry, part-time elementary school cafeteria; Annie Hassler, part-time elementary school cafeteria; Julina Price, Knoy instructional assistant; Kathy Salter, substitute teacher for Kiste; Stacey Wheeler, middle school instructional assistant (part time), and Zach Waycott, high school media center;

• Hires: Katie Mosley, seventh-grade girls’ basketball coach; and Travis Dorsett, eighth-grade girls’ basketball coach.

The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale School Board is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Arthur L. Johnson Administration Center near Cloverdale High School.