Waitsburg School District moving to a digital learning model for secondary students

WAITSBURG—Waitsburg School Superintendent Mark Pickel and Secondary principal Stephanie Wooderchak met with their staffs on Monday, April 13 to discuss plans for a continuous learning model now that the schools will remain closed through the end of the 2019-2020 school year.

Grade 6-12 students will be moving to a remote, or digital learning model on April 27. Teachers at those grade levels will be presenting instruction via such platforms as Google Classroom and email. Until that time, the teachers have been connecting with their students through paper packets and a system of returning work electronically due to concerns about the possibility of viral spread.

The district conducted a poll of families and discovered that 96 percent of households are connected to the internet. The district is working with NexGen Technologies out of Walla Walla, and various internet service providers, to provide internet access to those households who are currently without service.

Additionally, families without computer access will have the opportunity to check out Chromebook computers from the district on Monday, April 27 from 8 a.m.- 12 p.m. in the ‘Link,’ the area between the gym and the high school.

Pickel and Wooderchack will be meeting with the senior class officers on Wednesday, April 14 to discuss ideas for ways to conduct a graduation ceremony. Ideas have been coming in from parents and students who are sharing graduation plans from around the region.

“We want to try to do whatever we can to provide the best celebration of their accomplishments in these uncertain times,” said Pickel. More information about graduation and other plans to honor the Class of 2020 will be forthcoming.