Utah K-12 schools dismissed for rest of academic year

Canyons School District buses sit idle in a parking lot in Sandy on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Utah’s K-12 public schools will remain closed for in-person learning for the remainder of the academic year, state officials announced Tuesday. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

More than 20 states have ordered building closures for remainder of school year; learning will continue online

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s K-12 public schools will remain closed for in-person learning for the remainder of the academic year, state officials announced Tuesday.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sydnee Dickson made the announcement during the daily COVID-19 briefing at the Utah Capitol.

“After consulting at length with the stakeholders — we’ve listened to parents, we’ve listened to teachers (and there’s) a variety of opinions of what we should do — I’ve come to the position that in order for us to continue to slow the spread and to get back on our feet socially and economically, this is not the time for us to have those schools back open,” Herbert said.

Even though it will have an impact on learning, “we want to make sure learning continues. Learning and achievement must continue and we want to make sure that will continue,” he said.

Herbert said he is particularly concerned that high school seniors are prepared for post-secondary education or the workforce.

Dickson said she supports the decision based on safety “not only of our students but of our citizens.” The decision will help school resume regular operations sooner, protect public health and contribute to the state’s economic recovery, she said.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

An empty hallway at Mount Jordan Middle School in Sandy is pictured on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Utah’s K-12 public schools will remain closed for in-person learning for the remainder of the academic year, state officials announced Tuesday.

However, Dickson said state education leaders are particularly concerned about the impact of the extended dismissal on students at risk of academic failure: students who live in poverty, those who are English language learners and students with disabilities. Educators are exploring the possibility of summer programs, tutoring and other supports to assist the state’s most vulnerable students.

Meanwhile, Utah schools will continue to ensure students receive meals, that learning continues, seniors finish the school prepared for college or other post-secondary training, and that schools continue to reach out to meet students, families and educators’ social-emotional needs.

She expressed gratitude to students, parents and educators who have “leaned in” to facilitate learning under highly challenging circumstances that she described as the “new now,” rather than the new normal.

“Nothing is normal about this situation,” she said.

Dickson added, “I want to thank our students for being resilient. I want to thank our teachers for being so creative, dedicated and hard working, and I want to thank our parents for being flexible. They carry a heavy load trying to be teachers, breadwinners and supports to their families. We just want to thank everybody who has leaned in to continue on in this new now as we move into the near future,” she said.

Schools are determining what to do in terms of student grades and credits, she said.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

An empty classroom at Mount Jordan Middle School in Sandy is pictured on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Utah’s K-12 public schools will remain closed for in-person learning for the remainder of the academic year, state officials announced Tuesday.

Dickson said she is recommending that educators “do no harm. Go easy. Realize the stress of this time. We’re so appreciative of the students and teachers who are making sure learning continues, and parents, but we also realize here are a lot of mitigating circumstances.”

Dickson said some districts are planning on virtual graduations for high school seniors and attempting to come up with alternatives to traditional end-of-year celebrations.

Canyons School District spokesman Jeff Haney said the decision was disappointing for students who were looking forward to returning to school to see their teachers and friends.

“This is particularly disappointing for the Class of 2020, which won’t be able to spend their final days in school with the people who made their years so memorable. But we recognize the decision to dismiss classes until the end of this academic year was not made lightly. It was done for the health and wellness of our entire community,” Haney said.

Haney said Canyon School District leaders “have every confidence in the skills and abilities — and dedication — of our teachers to finish the year strong. They will make sure that students know what they need to know to advance successfully to the next grade when we return in the fall.”

Utah joins more than 20 states and U.S. territories that have ordered or recommended school building closures for the rest of the school year, according to Education Week.

On March 13, Herbert, Dickson and Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox announced a soft closure of Utah public schools — district and charter schools — for two weeks due to social distancing recommendations necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ten days later, the dismissal was extended until May 1. Nearly 667,000 children in grades K-12 attend Utah public schools.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Mount Jordan Middle School in Sandy is pictured on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. Utah’s K-12 public schools will remain closed for in-person learning for the remainder of the academic year, state officials announced Tuesday.

Instruction is ongoing through distance learning. Some schools have sent home paper packets with students while others have shifted to online platforms. Schools continue to provide meal service and work with families that need other services.

Parents, educators and school administrators have said they had mentally prepared for the possibility that Utah students would not return to their schools this academic year but the announcement means another five to six more weeks of instruction guided by parents at home, according to some school district calendars.

This story will be updated throughout the day.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3ch6pAs