The Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District says students must actively participate in class — not just log in — for the digital portion of the 2020-2021 school year.
Earlier this week, the school board approved a virtual attendance policy, which “requires attendance be taken daily while in distance learning.”
Dr. Mary Brown, the district’s superintendent, said the staff has been working to prepare for the first day of classes, scheduled for Tuesday. The start date was moved back a few days so teachers and parents could receive more instruction on operating Canvas, the learning management system that will be used for the coming school year.
“We have met so far with approximately 300 parents about our new learning management system,” Brown said. “We were able to answer important questions from parents as it relates to virtual learning schedules and Canvas login information.”
According to board policy, which was presented by Dr. Kenneth Pulley, deputy superintendent, attendance is based not just on assignment completion. In order to be considered present, students are expected to take an active role with their classwork and interact with instructors every day.
This includes doing tasks such as answering online forms, questions and surveys, participating in online discussions, contributing ideas and work through email and joining in video meetings and live class sessions.
For the live sessions, the Mississippi Department of Education requires that students keep their cameras turned on, saying that “if cameras are not on, students will not be marked present.” Additionally, if a student is ill and cannot log in, a parent will need to call the school attendance line to report that the student will be absent.
Teachers are expected to provide new lessons and activities each week. They will be available by email, by phone or online from 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The board also encourages teachers to create a Google voice number, a telephone service that provides call forwarding and voicemail, and keep communication open through the Canvas app.
Teachers will be required to do roll call for every class each day and submit the roll to the attendance clerk.
For the month of August, all students will be participating in distance learning online. Brown said that she did not know the exact number of students who will be opting for the hybrid scheduling, which is to start Sept. 8, but she said the situation with the pandemic later in the year will dictate whether that is still a viable option. “Data is continuing to be gathered for those who will be possibly transitioning to the hybrid model beginning in September. However, implementing the hybrid schedule will be dependent upon the COVID-19 cases,” Brown said.
• Contact Adam Bakst at 581-7233 or abakst@gwcommonwealth.com. Twitter: @AdamBakst_GWCW
