Schools in the area are setting up lines of communication with students and delivery sites for meals in preparation for distance learning while school buildings have been closed.
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Although the situation is rapidly changing, the following is a rundown of district start dates and plans as of Thursday, March 19. Parents should watch for direct communication or monitor their district's website and Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.
Superior
The Superior School Board on Wednesday, March 18, approved 15 emergency leave days for hourly support staff, effective immediately. The action item was amended from 10 to 15 days in response to Gov. Tony Evers’ decision to close schools for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Initially, the state had ordered schools to remain closed until April 6.
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The extension, said District Administrator Amy Starzecki, allows the board time to look at long-term solutions prior to the April 13 School Board meeting.
More than twice as many attended the meeting online than in-person, adhering to Evers’ order prohibiting gatherings of 10 or more people.
Starzecki told the board the district would need to create an incentive for support staff who volunteer to cook and deliver food to children and clean buildings during the shutdown.
Information about distance learning will be sent to Superior parents Friday, March 20. At-home learning for students is expected to begin March 24.
“We are going to ease into this,” Starzecki told parents in a March 17 letter. “We are going to use this first week to establish initial learning, routines, and communication plans between teachers and students/families.”
Maple
Spring break will extend an extra two days for students, according to information sent March 18 to parents by Maple School District Administrator Sara Croney. Teachers will use March 23-24 to collaborate and prepare lessons for the extended closure. Students should expect contact from their teachers March 25 via email or phone to deliver materials and outline expectations. Students are expected to advance to the next grade in 2020-21 or, in the case of seniors, graduate.
“The ceremony, however, may be in question,” Croney said.
Both Spectrum and Comcast are offering free or reduced rate internet service during the school closure to families of students. Chromebooks are being set up for families who do not have computers at home.
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Free meals are available to all children who reside in the school district. Parents are asked to order ahead for two weeks at a time via text at 715-815-7251 or email at jbotten@nw-tigers.org. Pick-up sites will be located at Northwestern High School, Iron River Elementary School, Brule Head Start, Lake Nebagamon Auditorium and the Roadhouse Tavern parking lot in Hawthorne.
Solon Springs
According to the district website, distance learning was set to begin Thursday, March 19 in the Solon Springs School District. With most teachers working remotely, front office staff said Thursday, it was hard to gauge how it was going.
Students are being asked to monitor their school email daily. Teachers intend to use Class Dojo, Google Classroom, Zoom, Google Meet, email and phone calls to communicate with students and parents.
Free breakfast and lunch is available to all students enrolled in the school. Delivery of lunch and the next day’s breakfast was set to begin March 19. Participants should call 715-378-2263, ext. 254.
