SOMA - Remote Learning Plan - Update

Yesterday, our legal representatives met with Superintendent Taylor and counsel for the District regarding the SOMSD Restart and Recovery Plan. The meeting was helpful in clarifying certain key portions of the Plan set forth by the District on Friday, August 7th.

Superintendent Taylor has made the following commitments with respect to the Plan’s implementation:

1. No matter whether a student chooses remote or hybrid learning, and even if schools are forced to go all-remote at some point, every child will have, at a minimum, one hour of live instruction per day where their teachers will teach a standardized grade-level curriculum.
2. The proportions of virtual teaching techniques to be used, as set forth on page 50 of the Plan (1/3 live, 1/3 teacher-created videos and 1/3 independent and supplemental work) are not mandatory because fluidity is required under these unusual circumstances.  However, teachers are expected to roughly approximate these proportions.  All direct instruction (live and taped lessons) will be teacher-led.  Websites such as Khan Academy will only be used (as they had been in the past) for practice and to supplement, not replace, direct instruction. 
3. Unlike the software used last school year which did not have a monitoring capability, the Canvas software system that the school district has purchased will enable administrators to monitor teacher and student interactions and activities, including whether the required live interaction is provided. Administrators will monitor the system daily and address any concerns promptly—including if a teacher is not interacting with students as outlined in the Plan. The District has already started training teachers and administrators on the Canvas system and all teachers will be trained prior to the start of the school year. While we do not expect this to be an issue, this is an important safeguard for our children. 

We thank the teachers, administrators, and staff who will be working this year on behalf of our children to implement the Plan and intend to work with them in a spirit of partnership to help them succeed. To that end, Dr. Taylor has agreed to meet with us again after school starts, if we request, to address any issues that arise.  We appreciate that commitment.

Finally, in light of today’s announcement from the Governor, and the ever-changing circumstances across the State, we have been told that the Plan is fluid and the District is committed to meeting the challenges of the ever-changing landscape.  As above, the minimum live learning requirements will apply to remote education in any context.

We are profoundly grateful to Rachel Maimin and H. Gregory Baker of Lowenstein Sandler and to Denise Rekem of Parles Rekem for their commitment and efforts on behalf of the District's children. 

Here's to a great school year - no matter what the challenges we face.  Stay safe, everyone.