The Newsleaders
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Sartell – St. Stephen
    • St. Joseph
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Editorial
    • Letter to the Editor
  • Community
    • Calendar
    • Citizen Spotlight
    • Criers
    • People
  • Notices
    • Funerals/Visitations
    • Obituary
    • Police Blotter
    • Public Notices
    • Support Groups
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • News Tips
    • Submissions
  • Archives
    • Sartell-St. Stephen Archive
    • St. Joseph Archive
  • Advertise With Us
    • Print Advertising
    • Digital Advertising
    • 2021 Promotions
The Newsleaders
No Result
View All Result

PineCone Pet Hospital MillerCarlin Serving all of central Minnesota locations!

Albany: 320-845-2035
Holdingford: 320-746-9994
St. Cloud: 320-252-7004
Upsala: 320-573-6234
Toll-free: 1-800-644-4058
Collegeville Stearns Bank
Home Featured News

Despite early tech issues, distance learning going well

April 2, 2020
in Featured News, Print Sartell - St. Stephen, Sartell – St. Stephen
0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

by Mike Knaak

editor@thenewsleaders.com

After the first three days of distance learning, Sartell-St. Stephen school leaders evaluated how the district is handling the coronavirus pandemic during a school board working session April 1.

While technology issues early in the week were a concern, school board members discussed deeper and long-term challenges of continuing education with schools closed.

Schoology, the software the district uses to create, manage and share materials, essentially ground to a halt nationwide as usage skyrocketed on March 30. Problems continued through April 1. Schoology usage jumped 400 percent nationwide, according to Kyle Breitkreutz, director of technology.

For households that don’t have high-speed internet, the district acquired 40 hotspots so families that either can’t afford or don’t have access  can connect.

“We are in a major learning curve. The most exciting thing that’s happened this week is the thrill of kids connecting with their teachers and each other,” said Kay Nelson, assistant superintendent.

High school students created this video to thank their teachers.

 

Superintendent Jeff Schwiebert asked each board member to share what they’ve experienced as parents and what they’ve heard from the community.

The board agreed parents and staff have been positive in a very stressful time. Common comments included where to put everyone in families with multiple students at home, how the district can help parents supervise their child’s work and how to provide student-to-student communication, especially for older students, who are more likely to ask a friend for help rather than a teacher.

Board member Patrick Marushin would like to see feedback from parents and staff.

“What are we adjusting as we go along?” Marushin asked. He said he wants to see continuous improvement.

The district has served about 1,500 meals a day that are picked up at the Middle School, according to Joe Prom, director of business services.

Marushin, who works at home and has children at home, said the free meals have been a huge weight off of him and other parents. In addition the district is delivering about 100 meals a day.

Schwiebert described the attendance this week as “incredible,” Schwiebert said. The Middle School had three kids who didn’t connect on Monday.

“It’s going well in the first week” Schwiebert said. “What will it be like in week six? How can we keep kids motivated and enthusiastic? What will happen over time?”

The board and Schwiebert also want to come up with ideas to help seniors mark their final year in school including traditional events like awards ceremonies and graduation if the school is still shut down.

Schwiebert said a decision on graduation has to wait until Gov. Tim Walz makes a decision. Now schools are shut down until May 4 unless Walz issues another order to extend distance learning.

“How do we recognize kids in their final year and bring the community back together?” Schwiebert asked.

Previous Post

Mayor says city services are ready to support St. Joseph residents

Next Post

Sartell-St. Stephen school board minutes – Feb. 24, 2020

Next Post

Sartell-St. Stephen school board minutes - Feb. 24, 2020

Please login to join discussion

CMCU Twitter Follow us on
Twitter
for the latest news!
Facebook Follow us on Facebook
for the latest news!

Go Fund Me # 1 Thank You
Newsleader
Supporters!
Elizabeth Brunsvold
Cultural Connections
Jim Berg & Mary Kruger
Mary & John Davis
Sandy Denne
Bobbi & David Gouker
James & marry Graeve
Juliana Howard
Julia Joplin
Linda Kmitch
M. Molus
Sheila Nahan
Go Fund Me # 2 Thank You
Newsleader
Supporters!

Peggy & Michael Roske
Judy Scheuerell
Geraldine Schwab
James Stotko
James Towler
Anna Trobec
Kaye Wenker
Ellen Wahlstrom
Leona Wieland
Jeanie Wilkens
GAGEN & VASUGI RAMANATHAN
Go Fund Me # 3 Thank You
Newsleader
Supporters!
Nicole Borg
Erica Karger-Gatzow
Dane & Lori Listug-Lunde
Nadine Martin
Doris Minnerath
Merry Mund
Marilyn Peitso
Stephen Schwanke
Dianne Tuff
Dale Zacher
Private Donors

Search

No Result
View All Result

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Kluesner appointed to St. Joseph City Council
  • Wood sentenced for killing two children
  • A list of school superintendent finalists expected March 1
  • Sartell man injured in snowmobile crash
  • Sales-tax revenue for Sartell on the up and up

City Links

Sartell
St. Joseph
St. Stephen

School District Links

Sartell-St. Stephen school district
St. Cloud school district

Chamber Links

Sartell Chamber
St. Joseph Chamber

Community

Calendar

Citizen Spotlight

Criers

People

Notices

Funerals/Visitions

Obituary

Police Blotter

Public Notices

Support Groups

About Us

Contact Us

News Tips

Submissions

Advertise With Us

Print Advertising

Digital Advertising

2021 Promotions

Local Advertising Rates

National Advertising Rates

© 2021 Newleaders

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Sartell – St. Stephen
    • St. Joseph
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Column
    • Editorial
    • Letter to the Editor
  • Community
    • Calendar
    • Citizen Spotlight
    • Criers
    • People
  • Notices
    • Funerals/Visitations
    • Obituary
    • Police Blotter
    • Public Notices
    • Support Groups
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • News Tips
    • Submissions
  • Archives
    • Sartell-St. Stephen Archive
    • St. Joseph Archive
  • Advertise With Us
    • Print Advertising
    • Digital Advertising
    • 2021 Promotions

© 2021 Newleaders

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In