Q: As of the date of this interview (Aug. 19) can you tell us how school is shaping up to open on Aug. 31?
A: Right now, about three-quarters of our students have opted for brick and mortar (in person) learning and most of the rest have opted for school-based distance learning — but this is fluid and changes pretty much daily.
Q: How are teachers planning to teach this year?
A: We had three extra pre-planning days in early August to help teachers learn the technology associated with school-based distance learning. A number of our teachers will be doing what’s called “synchronous instructing,” which means they will be teaching in person and online at the same time. This keeps the distance learning students connected to both their teachers and their classmates and allows them to follow the same pace as their brick and mortar peers. They can enter into classroom discussions and could also participate in small groups with other distance learners or students in the classroom. At the middle and high school level, distance learners will be assigned a schedule and will be responsible for logging on to each individual class, much like students have to change classes in the school building. Additionally, there will be some distance learning-only classrooms at some schools.
Q: Can you go over some of the safety protocols at the brick and mortar schools?
A: For one thing, we have installed plexiglass and cardboard shields on three sides of each desk, so students can take their masks off while seated. We are ensuring that students are distanced in classrooms by spreading out desks. We will be enforcing mask-wearing diligently. Masks must be worn when changing classes and when on the bus and then into the building — or any time that social distancing isn’t possible. We are working on our policy for enforcement, but I expect we will use progressive discipline with a student possibly required to go to distance learning if they absolutely refuse to wear a mask.
Q: Can you give us an update regarding fall sports?
A: The FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) has said that practices can resume on Aug. 24 with games beginning on Sept. 4, but St. Johns County will wait until Sept. 11 for the first games to allow for an extra week of conditioning and practice. This will not jeopardize our teams from participating in postseason play. Also, the FHSAA has said that capacity in stadiums must be limited to 30 percent, with separation. We are still developing our procedures on how to handle this, but our goal is to control risk and make it as minimal as possible.
Q: Do you have any district news to share?
A: We have a staff change at the district level: Michael Degutis, our Chief Financial Officer, has been promoted to Chief of Staff, managing the entire district and reporting directly to Superintendent Forson. We plan to leave the two deputy superintendent positions left vacant by Cathy Mittelstadt and Brennan Asplen (who both accepted superintendent of schools positions in other school districts in the state) open for now to try out this new structure.
Also, we welcome new school board member for District 2, Tony Coleman, who will take office in November and replace retiring school board member Tommy Allen. Tommy was a stalwart on the board and we will miss his leadership, guidance and championing of the Character Counts! Program, which he brought to our district in 1998. We wish him every happiness in retirement — on his actual farm!
Q: Do you have anything else to share with District 1?
A: I’d like to express how appreciative I’ve been through this whole “five month Spring Break” of the parents who have been so supportive of us. I appreciate their ideas and concerns. The feeling I’ve had is that we are all in a very unsure position together and our parents have been strong partners of the school district.
Q: How can our readers contact you?
A: They can email me at beverly.slough@stjohns.k12.fl.us or call me at (904) 547-7510.
