District leaders will use data, not dates, to determine next steps
The South Bend Community School Corporation Board of Trustees voted last night to begin the 2020-21 school year with at least eight weeks of full-time eLearning for all students, beginning Wednesday, August 12. Teachers in the corporation will also participate in afternoon sessions of professional development training to enhance eLearning instruction from August 12 until August 21.
“The soonest students would return in person to classrooms is October 5,” according to Superintendent Dr. Todd Cummings. “However, any decisions we make at that time will be based on health department data,” he added. “We will remain flexible and will confer with health officials as we plan for learning options after October 5. The health and safety of our students, teachers, and families will drive any of those decisions.”
Just as it did last spring, the corporation will provide 35 Wi-Fi-equipped buses parked in areas that lack internet service, so all students will be able to successfully engage in eLearning. Breakfast and lunch will also be served at sites around the city.
In mid-September, corporation leadership will evaluate current health data, will decide next steps based on that data, then will communicate that information to families. If that data shows that in-person learning can be conducted safely, students would gradually phase back into classrooms after October 5. If that data shows that in-person learning would not be safe for students and staff, eLearning would continue.
“Flexibility and adaptability will be key as we move the district forward. This situation is fluid and requires us to prepare for options we may not foresee,” Cummings said.