Education

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By Wendy Corr, Cowboy State Daily

At Northwest College in Powell, staff are preparing offices, classrooms and dorm rooms for the return of students on Aug. 19, even though officials are not sure how many students will show up for the fall semester.

West Hernandez, Enrollment Services Director at Northwest, said numbers for the fall semester are changing from week to week.

“It’s challenging to get an accurate picture,” he said. “You know, we have a good population of international students here at Northwest, and we don’t know what that’s gonna look like. And we have students who are just, and rightfully so, apprehensive about a large group of people coming to campus. So there is some talk about students nationally taking a gap year.”

Hernandez said he certainly understands why students are wary.

“We don’t know what this fall’s going to look like in many ways,” he said. “So you’re giving students information at this current time, with them hoping to make a decision, and sometimes you can’t give them everything.”

Hernandez said the college is still working out the details of what campus life will be like this fall — looking at a combination of online classes with in-person classes that would be held only with the appropriate safety measures in place.

“Students will have the opportunity to go to class in person at times, but also join us via Zoom for that live interaction,” he said.

Campus officials are making sure that Northwest College students are as safe as possible when school does start again this fall — that includes making mask-wearing mandatory for students and staff.

“We’re asking students and staff to wear masks while on campus, especially in those close quarter areas,” he noted. “You know, if you’re within 6 feet of somebody, it is going to be a requirement.”

Hernandez said the college’s staff is being diligent about cleaning facilities, but added students will need to do their part.

“We’re going to need the students’ help in following orders, monitoring how they’re feeling every day, and all those pieces. It’s definitely going to be a different fall semester than normal.”

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By Ellen Fike, Cowboy State Daily

Central Wyoming College, which has four campuses across the state, will transition from virtual learning back to in-person instruction for the fall term, officials have announced.

CWC has released its general guidelines for college operations in Lander, Dubois, Jackson and Riverton. Classes are slated to begin Aug. 24.

While the school year will begin with in-person instruction, all courses will shift to remote learning for the week between the end of the Thanksgiving break and the end of the fall term on Dec. 4, the college’s plan said. The plan is similar to the one in place for the University of Wyoming’s reopening.

The plan also said the college expects a chance that the campuses will see students, visitors or employees who have been exposed to or contracted the virus. Enhanced cleaning protocols and social distancing guidelines will be implemented for the fall semester, the plan said and it warned that short-term “rolling closures” might be implemented if virus activity picks up.

Signs will be placed throughout the four campuses letting students, employees and visitors know they should stay home if they’re experiencing any coronavirus-like symptoms, urging them to practice social distancing and to wear a mask when in common areas.

All employees and students will have to submit to a health screening when using any CWC facility. Seating and equipment in the college facilities, including its classrooms, will be removed, moved or clearly labeled to maintain 6 feet between individuals.

No gatherings larger than 50 people will be allowed indoors. Phone and email interactions will be encouraged, and when in-person meetings occur, they will be scheduled using the Google Calendar function to assist with contact tracing, if necessary.

No self-service food options, such as buffets or salad bars, will be available at any of the campus facilities.

If federal coronavirus relief funds are available to campuses, some of the money will be used to pay for or partially reimburse students for internet service subscriptions or mobile hotspots for students who are remote learning from home, the plan said.

Non-athlete student residents on campus will be assigned one person per dorm room and no guests will be allowed except in designated areas. Five rooms, with private bathrooms, will be reserved in the event a student needs to be quarantined or isolated.

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By Jim Angell, Cowboy State Daily

Wyoming’s schools will receive more than $32.5 million in coronavirus relief from the federal government, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow has announced.

Balow announced last week that the funds are Wyoming’s share of $13.2 billion allocated to elementary and secondary schools across the country as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

The money will give Wyoming school districts emergency funds to address the impacts of the coronavirus on schools across the state. 

“We are grateful for these timely funds,” Balow said in a news release. “Wyoming education should not go ‘back to normal.’ School districts and schools will utilize the … funds to make schools more nimble and safer in the face of a resurgence or future pandemic.”

School buildings across the state remain closed as students continue to take lessons from home. Several school districts have already decided not to open their buildings back up during this school year.

The federal money should be used to make up for any educational shortfalls that may have occurred while students spent the last several months of school at home, Balow said.

“We should spend these dollars to fill education gaps created by COVID-19 school closures and strengthen our education system,” she said.

Wyoming’s schools will have until April 6 to develop a plan for the continued education of their students in the face of a new state order extending the closure of schools for two weeks, according to Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow.

Balow, in a news release Friday, said each school district must have its “Adapted Learning Plan” approved by the state Department of Education by April 6 to continue receiving state funds.

Gov. Mark Gordon and Dr. Alexia Harrist, the state’s health officer, on Friday announced the state would extend until April 17 the orders closing the state’s schools. The orders had originally been set to end on April 3.

The state’s school districts have been working on plans to offer remote education to students online since the school closures began in mid-March. Balow praised the efforts by the districts to provide for their students.

“School doors may be closed to students, but Wyoming education is open for business,” Balow said. “The desire by teachers to connect with their students and provide learning opportunities has been inspiring. Teaching and learning while practicing social distancing is a new concept for many. Teachers, parents, and students all need support in order for it to be successful.” 

By Ellen Fike, Cowboy State Daily

Cheyenne schools are preparing a contingency plan in case the coronavirus pandemic causes schools to be closed beyond April 3.

“While this remote learning plan could proceed through the end of the year, we will consider it a bonus if we can get our students back in schools sooner,” Boyd Brown, superintendent of Laramie County School District No. 1 said in a news release on the district’s Facebook page. “Know that the district’s administration, teachers and staff members miss having contact with our students.”

This week, teachers will reach to families using the Remind app. Students will be invited to refresh their learning, beginning with lessons they were working on prior to the school closures.

Pre-kindergarten through sixth grade students will focus on English/Language Arts and math. Teachers will weave other disciplines into lessons when possible.

Prioritized standards will be streamlined for students in seventh through 12 grades. Electives will be taught in a “creative” manner.

If the closure remains in effect, students will begin remote learning April 6. At that time, new material will be taught.

Remote learning will occcur in a variety communication methods. This will include learning packets, online instruction, phone calls, mailings and more. Paper copy packets will be provided to families without access to certain technology. District officials are working with administrators at the Transportation Department to develop a method of delivering and receiving the work from students and parents.

Beginning April 6, students will be engaged in lessons for each scheduled class. All lessons will include a learning target, an instructional component, student practice and a demonstration of learning. Resource teachers and case managers will ensure IEP students receive all assigned work and will work with parents for accommodations.

“Without a doubt, this is a very challenging experience for all,” Brown said. “Together, we can work to keep our community safe while allowing our students to progress academically. We are going to get through this together.”