By Jeanie Hankins
Publisher
When Dr. Barbara Remondini interviewed in March to become the new superintendent at Wickenburg Unified School District, COVID-19 was not yet a concern for Arizona schools. Today, as settles into her new office and looks into the 2020-21 school year, COVID-19 is the primary concern, and teaching and learning have taken on a new look.
“Last spring, schools were responding to an emergency. This is not considered an emergency anymore. It’s how we do things,” Remondini said of at-home learning. As COVID-19 began to spread across the country and into Arizona last spring, Gov. Doug Ducey closed schools to in-person learning. Students, teachers and parents adapted to virtual methods to finish the school year.
As of now, Gov. Ducey has delayed students returning to the classroom until at least Aug. 17, but many districts’ school years begin prior to that date. WUSD’s year begins Aug. 3. The WUSD Board of Trustees will meet at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 6 to consider a plan for returning to in-person learning. “The decision will be data driven, and families will receive timely notice. Our goal right now is to ensure every student receives a very high-quality remote learning experience,” Remondini said. “For now we will focus on remote learning because that’s where we are.”
Once schools are allowed to reopen, she said each campus will implement procedures to comply with federal, state and local guidelines. “We will abide by all the guidelines,” Remondini said.
Remote learning, even in the short term, will be different from what was practiced in the spring semester. Remondini explained that the school year is “front-loaded” with teaching and learning of new information, and the spring semester is also for learning, but includes assessments and other activities to wrap up the year.
To keep up with the required teaching and learning schedule, as of Monday, Aug. 3, students are expected to attend class online, complete and turn-in assignments on schedule, and teachers will be on campus in the classroom setting as much as possible. The district will arrange “grab-and-go” lunches in town, and delivery to outer-lying locations. Families will be provided with details regarding cost and locations by the end of the week. Fall sports are still planned at the high school and middle school. “We do plan to participate in athletics within the guidelines for sanitizing and social distancing,” Remondini said.
Kindergartners are on track to start Aug. 3 as well. Hassayampa Elementary will welcome 28 kindergartners and Festival Foothills Elementary will welcome 19. Both schools hosted kindergarten Meet the Teacher last week. Students received learning kits to take home to support their remote learning activities, and when needed, a computer device was checked out to the family. Kindergartners not yet registered are still welcome, Remondini said.
To aid with remote learning, the district has remote devices available to all students.
Student Devices that have been pre-requested through an online form may be picked up at the site requested at the following times. (To fill out request form visit www.wickenburgschools.org/device)
Wickenburg High School Wed, 7/29 1:30pm-3:30pm 928-684-6600
Hassayampa Elementary Thurs, 7/30 8:00am - 10:30am 928-684-6750
Vulture Peak MS Thurs, 7/30 11:00am -12:30pm 928-684-6700
Festival Foothills Thurs, 7/30 2:00pm - 4:00pm 928-501-6000
Wickenburg Virtual Academy - Secretary will contact WVA students 928-684-6717
If an individual is unable to pick up at the scheduled time, they will need to make an appointment with the site secretary.
Remondini is optimistic that WUSD students and teachers can successfully complete required coursework until the schools reopen for in-person attendance. She said the district will finalize specific plans for reopening once a firm date has been established.
