Only in isolated situations will educators with Ohio County Schools utilize the remote-learning platforms that were developed for last year’s pandemic-riddled academic year.
If a parent wishes for their child to be instructed online, they will need to commit to the state’s remote learning system, but no such system exists for students in grades fifth through kindergarten.
“The virtual option for parents right now is the West Virginia Virtual School,” explained Superintendent Dr. Kim Miller. “We made the decision a few weeks ago that the best way to educate our students is with in-person instruction. That’s what they have now, and there is no choice in elementary school. For all other students, it’s the state’s virtual school.
“Now, if (Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department Administrator) Howard Gamble calls me and tells me we have an outbreak at one of our schools, that’s when we go back into platform mode. Teachers will upload schoolwork daily, and they will have touch-points with students on a daily basis,” she said. “And based on our Board of Education, if a teacher has to quarantine, those are sick days. If a student has to quarantine, those are sick days, too. It’s no different than the flu.”
Masks Not Mandatory
The Ohio County Board of Education voted 4-1 this week to allow parents to make the decision whether not their child will wear a face covering while attending classes in one of the school system’s 13 buildings.
W.Va. Gov. Jim Justice has not mandated masks, and he has removed the state’s schools from the Covid Alter Map System, as well. Last year, if a county was listed as “red” on the map, virtual learning was mandated by the state, and extracurricular activities were canceled. Those precautions are not in place as the academic year officially began Wednesday for public schools in Ohio County.
“But because of last school year, our teachers know how to use the remote platforms if and when they need to, and they know how to use all of the tools included so they can give the students the best learning experience during that isolated period of time,” Miller reported. “We have told our employees that we are aware that the health department highly recommended that everyone wears a mask.
“Our board made the decision that parents can choose to send their children to school wearing masks, but that the masks are not mandatory in our buildings,” she said. “That is the decision that was made on the local level, and there are no state mandates at this time, so that means it is up to parental choice. That’s how we have started this school year.”
Pre-Pandemic Mode
The coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020, and Gov. Justice quickly shuttered all schools in West Virginia. Administrators and teachers with Ohio County Schools immediately began enhancing the system’s virtual learning platforms and developed a packet learning program for students without broadband access.
The district also set up “hot spots” at all schools and in several additional locations throughout the county, and employees also assisted with the distribution of food for the students. This school year, however, has begun without those arrangements in place.
“Before the pandemic and a child had Chicken Pox, it was up to the teacher and the parents to figure out how the student gets the work at home,” Miller said. “That’s how we are going about the school year right now, and again, if a parent wishes to utilize the virtual piece, they will have to commit to the West Virginia Virtual School. That’s a parent’s choice.
“It’s not the same as it was last year, but the platforms are ready and will be prepared if we have a situation where students are forced to go into remote learning,” the superintendent added. “That remote piece is something that will come and go based on isolated situations.”
