From a distance
Schools to begin year with distance learning, no sports
By Jerry W. Kram
The third week of August usually opens with shouts of delight as elementary school students see friends for the first time in months and get to race around trying out the slides and swings that have sat empty in the summer sun. But next month, the playgrounds and school rooms will be silent, at least for a while.
The school boards of both New Town and Parshall adopted plans this week that will see students continue working through the distance learning programs that began this spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was not an easy decision for either administrators or board members, but the worsening health crisis forced their hands.
“Everything changed so quickly,” said New Town School Superintendents Mark Bluestone. “Three weeks ago I would have said ‘open it up’ for face to face classes. But then the spike came and we have to react to that. The situation has gotten worse so quickly I don’t think we have any choice but to begin the year with distance learning.”
Both school districts are going to reevaluate their decision regularly. The New Town School Board voted to implement distance learning from the first day of school, August 19 to Sept. 21. The board will reevaluate the situation at its regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 8.
Parshall committed to starting school on August 24 and starting with distance learning until after Labor Day, Sept. 7. The Parshall School board will meet the week before Labor Day to evaluate the situation and decide if distance learning would be extended.
Parshall Superintendent Sagert said since they school can’t let the students come together practice obviously they can’t play games either. A decision to restart sports will be made the same time the boards reevaluate returning to in-person classes.
