PAGE A2, KEIZERTIMES, JULY 17, 2020
WINDOWS, CABINETS, APPL I ANCES, LUMBER, PLYWOOD,
YES WE DELIVER! DOORS,
FENCING, SIDING, FLOORING, INSULATION, & MUCH, MUCH MORE!
B M
B C
BUILDING MATERIALS
BARGAIN CENTER, INC.
775 FRONT STREET NE - SALEM - CALL US AT 503-363-9070
Distance learning 2.0 to rely on
more teacher-student interaction
High-risk
teachers
will get fi rst
chance at
instruction
slots
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
The Salem-Keizer school
board hosted their second work
session of the month on Tues-
day, July 14 regarding back-to-
school planning in the midst of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Early in the meeting, Super-
intendent Christy Perry com-
mented that Gov. Kate Brown’s
mandate from the previous
day regarding limiting indoor
gatherings of no more than 10
people won’t affect the district’s
plans for in-person graduation
ceremonies in August.
Perry also mentioned that
the recent mandate will not
affect the district’s plan of us-
ing a hybrid model in the fall,
although she did say that plans
could get changed later on if
the district receives addition-
al guidance from the Oregon
Department of Education
(ODE).
“Right now, we haven’t
changed any of our planning,”
Perry said. “Our goal and the
direction right now is to do as
much in person as possible.”
“Whether it’s September or
October or whatever month, a
hybrid model is how we’re go-
ing to get back to school.”
On Monday, July 13, the
district shared that they have
developed a new, comprehen-
sive all-online academy called
Enhanced Digital and Guided
Education (EDGE), which will
look different than the dis-
tance-learning model used in
the spring.
“The Salem-Keizer Public
Schools (SKPS) EDGE pro-
gram will provide students
with high quality, rigorous and
well-rounded learning oppor-
tunities, including instructional
supports, English language de-
velopment support and more,”
the district said in a press re-
lease.
The goal for the EDGE
program is to pair teacher-led
instruction with family-sup-
ported and independent at-
home application and learning
while still staying connected to
their school communities — trying to correct.”
High school kids registering
students enrolled in the EDGE
program will still be registered as EDGE students also gives
at the school they would have them access to Oregon School
attended in person for the Activities Association (OSAA)
sports and activities if they
2020-21 school year.
keep their eli-
“We real-
gibility require-
ized from dis-
ments.
tance learning
The district
that if you just
hasn’t yet made
put static in-
accommoda-
formation up
tions for ESL
on a website,
students who
but don’t have
want to enroll
a teacher ac-
in EDGE, but
tively guiding
they are work-
that learning, it
ing to make
doesn’t work,”
that happen be-
assistant
su-
fore the fall.
per intendent
Te a c h e r s
Kraig Sproles
— Kraig Spoles
that feel like
said in a pre-
Asst. Superintendent
they more at
sentation
to
risk of contract-
the board. “It
ing COVID-19
is going to be
will likely get
digital, but it’s
going to have a really high the fi rst crack at the initial
teacher applications for the
teacher component.”
Grades will be given and EDGE program.
“The most likely candidates
regular attendance is required.
Students won’t be allowed to for the EDGE program are
do the EDGE program and teachers that are at-risk and
would have diffi culty return-
in-person learning.
“Some of the things people ing,” said Jim Orth, the direc-
struggled with in the spring tor of strategic initiatives for
with distance learning was that the district.
Students are able to opt out
it was pass-fail and students
might not have been engaged,” of the EDGE program and go
Sproles said. “We heard from a into the hybrid model that is
lot of parents that it was not as currently being planned for
rigorous as students wanted, so the school year. Students can
that has been something we’re also leave the program if the
“We heard
from a lot of
parents that
it was not
as rigorous
as students
wanted.”
district returns to all in-person
learning later in the year.
The current hybrid model
that is being considered by the
district would require kinder-
garten, fi rst and second grade
students to attend in-person
classes Tuesday through Friday,
with digital learning and sup-
ports taking place on Monday.
Students from third grade
through high school would
attend in-person classes Tues-
day and Thursday or Wednes-
day and Friday, with online
instruction taking place on
non-classroom days. Supports
would be offered on Mondays.
Since the last work session,
it was determined by the dis-
trict that the initial capacity
for each in-person learning
space would be 20 students per
room in elementary schools,
23 students per room in mid-
dle schools and 25 students per
room in high schools.
Sproles reminded the board
that this is still a fl uid situation
and that fl exibility will be re-
quired in order to move for-
ward.
“There are so many parts
of this that are still ambiguous,
and it is really hard to move
forward to try and gain cer-
tainty where we can, but also
live in that ambiguous state,”
Sproles said.
There will be a public hear-
ing on Aug. 11 to confi rm a
fi nal plan for the school year.
We Didn’t Set The Bar
WE ARE
THE BAR!
“ This community is beautiful and the whole staff is so attentive
and caring! The atmosphere is engaging and respectful and it is
so good to know that Mom is in such good hands. I would highly
recommend this community to anyone! ”
— HEIDI
r ached t h e age of si i x t y -two.
t ose who ha v e re
v i n g f o r th
Qual l i t y senior lil vi
Come See the Finest in Senior Living!
CALL (503) 390 -1300
1165 McGee Ct NE, Keizer, OR • www.VillageAtKeizerRidge.com
North Santiam watershed
seeking board members
The North Santiam Water-
shed Council (NSWC) Board
of Directors is seeking poten-
tial future volunteer Board
members. The NSWC Board
of Directors represent the di-
verse interests and perspec-
tives found throughout our
geography – local landowners,
land managers, businesses, rec-
reation enthusiasts and natural
resource advocates.
The mission of NSWC is
“providing opportunities for
stakeholders to cooperate in
promoting and sustaining the
health of the North Santiam
watershed and its communi-
ties.”
NSWC is seeking addi-
tional Board representation
from the following stakehold-
er interests: Economic (timber,
agriculture, aggregate, recre-
ation and tourism or other
business), natural resources,
small cities in the watershed,
Linn County (citizen at large,
appointed by County Com-
missioners), North Santiam
Middle and Upper sub-basin
and education.
Previous Board service
is not required, but experi-
ence with or knowledge of
non-profi t organization man-
agement is a plus. Current
Board committees include
executive, governance, and fi -
nance. NSWC is planning to
create committees for com-
munity engagement, fundrais-
ing and education. Therefore,
we are specifi cally seeking in-
dividuals with experience, ex-
pertise or an interest in these
areas.
For consideration, please
email nswcboard2020@gmail.
com. Then, NSWC will coor-
dinate a brief telephone and/
or Zoom interview conversa-
tion with the members of the
NSWC Governance Com-
mittee. Candidates will be
reviewed on an ongoing basis
for currently vacant positions.