Administration Implements New Impromptu Virtual Learning Schedule

Typical snow days will be no more due to a new Impromptu Virtual Learning Schedule, announced by the Hartford High School administration that will require students to meet online instead of going to school.

Students and guardians will be notified of the schedule for the day over email, text, and through news organizations. The virtual learning schedule will be put in place if there are weather related road conditions, a sudden spike of and or student illnesses, building related issues, or extreme cold weather conditions. There will be checkpoints for students to log into their classroom link every 30 minutes starting at 8 - 11:30 a.m.

Director of curriculum and instruction Mike McIntyre discussed why this was put in place and the polices to go along with it. McIntyre said the impromptu schedule will provide flexibility.

“Instructional minutes are valuable and this approach allows students to continue their learning without interruption,” McIntyre said.

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each checkpoint and students will be marked absent if they are not logged into the google meet at the appropriate time. They will base the consequences on the nature of the absence.

As students will be expected to log into the meet at the certain checkpoints, teachers will be expected to provide instructions and outcomes for learning. Technology and Engineering teacher Todd Whitlow explained that it is good to have this schedule available just in case it is needed.

“[It is] better to be prepared than scrambling if it is needed,” Whitlow said.

Whitlow also discussed the challenges that this new schedule will bring about. He thinks the majority of obstacles with virtual learning are on the teachers to overcome.

“A snow day means no school at all so I think it will be a major adjustment for [students],”

Slinger High School superintendent Daren Sievers thinks that the biggest challenge is put on the teachers regarding virtual learning. He explains how this year’s challenge is for teachers responsibilities by making sure in person students and virtual students are getting their best effort and attention.

“I think the biggest challenge is on the shoulders of the teachers,” Slinger High School superintendent Daren Sievers said. “Providing quality in person instruction on a daily basis is a hard but rewarding career.”

Slinger High School is not doing any type of impromptu learning schedule because of COVID this year. If there is a snow day they will pause instruction and continue when conditions improve. They are not confident that all students and staff have everything they need at home to keep successful instruction going, considering most snow days happen unexpectedly.

As far as HUHS and technical difficulties, McIntyre said students and teachers will need to be flexible and understanding when the challenges come about.