School Board members raise questions about virtual school

With its 13,000 students headed to virtual school on Sept. 8, St. Landry Parish School Board members are raising their hands with questions in Zoom meetings about what that is going to look like.
The school district has never done virtual learning on the scale planned. Even a hybrid plan — a mix of in-person and online learning — would be a new undertaking for the district in response to the coronavirus.
At the end of a presentation at the Aug. 6 Board meeting, Superintendent Patrick Jenkins said, I’m asking for your patience. While we have a very professional staff ... this is new to everyone and so we are still teaching, learning, creating all of these components.”
He added, “This is new to a lot of people and we are still in the process of learning. I’m very confident in the teachers and staff being able to deliver a high-quality product to our students, but, again, I ask for your patience. We are still providing professional development.”
Eunice Board members Albert Hayes Jr. and Mary Ellen Donatto are urging the district’s staff to provide the Board, parents and public a detailed look at how instruction will like in the virtual classroom.
Hayes said that review should provide a view of actual lessons for various age groups.
“I think we can get this done,” he said.
Donatto said, “I’d really like to see the lesson presented.”
Donatto asked the district technology people about allowing more than 300 people to join a Zoom session so parents and others can watch.
Tricia Fontenot, instructional technology facilitator, said the district is limited to 300 participants on Zoom, but it is possible to live-stream on Facebook when the demonstration is given.
Byron Wimberly, computer center supervisor, said sessions can be recorded and posted on the district’s website. The district has purchased software that allows Zoom sessions to be integrated on Facebook.
Another concern about the virtual schedule was about the 1 to 5:30 p.m. schedule to pick up meals from schools.
“I believe lunch is absolutely too late,” Board member Joyce Haynes said.
“Getting lunch at 1 o’clock is just too late. I tried to address it before when it was mentioned. There is something really wrong with it and I was really hoping that you all would look at at,” she said.
“That’s pretty late for lunch when we depend on them not being hungry in order to learn,” he said.
Jenkins said the time is to allow parents an opportunity to pick the meals — lunch and breakfast.
Donatto said there is break in the schedule in the morning that would allow students to have snack.
One Board member, Josh Boudreaux, who is in his first term, questioned the level of detail sought.
“It is my understanding that the Board is designed to give the pathway. We are supposed to decide virtual or hybrid. I was not aware that our duties were to go through and micromanage our staff. I believe Mr. Jenkins is very capable of handling this process as well as Ms (Angela) Cassimere and all the staff below to do this. If we want to be involved, that’s fine. No problem,” he said.