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Page A2 A Shelton-Mason County Thursday, April 9, 2020
Mason County schools will re
By Gordon Weeks
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On Monday. Gov. Jay lnslee an-
nounced all Washington schools will
remain closed through the end of the
academic year due to the pandemic
cause by the coronavirus.
That doesn’t mean school’s out for
summer for students and staff in the
seven school districts in Mason Coun—
ty. Districts are required to provide
food to families in need, and to provide
instruction to students at home, a task
Pioneer School District Superinten—
dent. John (irummel likened to “build—
ing it while it is flying.”
A state mandate on March 16 closed
schools until at least April 24, and
then came Monday’s announcement at
a news conference in Olympia. Schools
are expected to resume on a regular
schedule in the fall.
The S/Lelton-ll’luson County Journal
emailed questions to all seven school
superintendents in Mason County.
SHELTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Shelton School District Superin—
tendent Alex Apostle called the gov-
ernor’s decision to end the school year
“absolutely the best decision under the
circumstances for students and staff. I
know this is a very trying experience
for parents and families in general,
but for now and the long term, it is the
best decision.”
Last week, district staff handed
out more than 1,700 Chromebooks
to families. Students who still need
a Chromebook are advised to notify
their teachers.
District staff and families filled out
surveys to help develop an instruction-
al plan, Apostle wrote.
“Based on the information gath-
ered, we are in the process of providing
distant learning opportunities specific
to our current curriculum,” he wrote.
“Generic” instructional materials are
also available on the district’s website.
he wrote.
Apostle wrote the district’s biggest
challenge is “Wi—Fi opportunity and
availability for all students that pro—
vides support for each and every stu-
dent to experience the very best educa—
tion under the current circumstances.”
These past few Weeks have “been a
challenge and a time of reflection on
how we as an educational community
can incorporate what we are experi—
encing so that, we can improve educa—
tion for all concerned,” he wrote. “I am
excited about our future and what, we
can do together.”
(IRA PEVI EW
SCHOOL DISTRICT
“We are saddened in the fact that
we will not have school for the re,—
951 W. KAMI BIIE IJIIIE Ill SllEl'l'flII
The parking lot at Evergreen Elementary School in downtown Shelton is
empty at noon Tuesday. The school has been closed since March 16 to
combat the spread of the coronavirus, and will remain so after Gov. Jay
lnslee on Monday announced all schools in the state will remain closed
through the end of the academic year. Journal photo by Gordon Weeks
mainder of the school year, but also
understand it was the safest and most
prudent reaction to an unprecedented
situation,” wrote Superintendent Kurt
Hilyard.
The Grapeview School District is
providing Chromebooks and online
learning tools to students, and con—
tinues to provide learning packets
and textbooks to students who don’t
have access to the internet, Hilyard
wrote.
The biggest challenge facing the
district is “the lack of connectivity, for
ALL students, with internet/telecom
companies as well as making sure we
provide meaningful learning opportu-
nities for students,” Hilyard wrote.
For Hilyard, “not seeing students
and staff in the building has and con—
tinues to be heartbreaking. It has been
interesting, to the least.”
PIONEER SCHOOL DISTRICT
Superintendent Gummel wrote he
understands the decision to close the
schools.
“When We look at the progression
of the virus, we do not want to open
any doors for it to return,” he wrote.
“As educators, we did not become a
teacher so that. we can work from be—
hind a computer. We did it because we
love Working with kids, one on one, in
groups, in close proximity, not. from a
distance, not. from a program, not from
social distancing.”
(luminel wrote he’s thinking about
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the seniors in the district —— who at-
tend high schools in Shelton and
Belfair who will have an asterisk
placed on their graduating class, the
athletes, the academics, the English
language learners and the students
with special needs.
“But I also think of the opportunity
to redefine who we are, how we edu—
cate, and how we can meet the needs
of all our learners,” he wrote. “It is a
bitter pill to swallow, but. I understand
why.”
As for the district’s plan for distance
learning, “We are currently defining
what this will look like in the coming
weeks and months,” Gummel wrote.
“This cliche’ ‘we are building it while it
is flying’ would certainly fit.”
The district is first assessing the
technological needs ofstudents so they
have access to learning, and asking
teachers to look at their curriculum
and “decide the best way to com muni—
cate learning, engagement and devel-
opment,” he wrote.
The district’s challenges include
communicating with every student,
assuring learning, trying to get. work
to hourly employees and “being a so-
cial being in a nonsocial construct,”
(Iummel wrote.
(lummel wrote he planned on retir—
ing at the end of the school year, “and
this is not the way I wanted to go out.”
SOUTHSIIHQ SCHOOL DISTRICT
Southside Superintendent Doris
Licensed and Bonded
ROOFDl'l 68N8
main closed until fall
Bolender wrote that. she expected the
closure from the. information the state
was sharing.
“This is a really difficult call, so I
know that it has been made with the
best information available and a lot of
thought has gone into this decision,”
she wrote.
Three days before the schools were
closed, the district sent surveys home
with students asking about their
needs, and based on those surveys is
offering online and paper-based op-
tions, Bolendor wrote.
“We will most likely be sending out
communication schedules and options
for families to be able to communicate
with staff,” she wrote.
The district’s biggest challenge has
been connecting with students and
families, Bolender wrote. But stu-
dents, families and staff are working
together to get through these “unprec—
edented challenges,” She wrote.
“I am thankful to work with such
an amazing group of individuals who
have demonstrated their commit—
ment to our families and education,”
she wrote. “I am equally grateful to
all the essential workers in our com-
munity. Thanks to all of you that are
doing everything within your power
to minimize the impact of this pan-
demic.”
NORTH MASON
SCHOOL DISTRICT
In a letter to family, students and
staff on its website, North Mason Su—
perintendent Dana Rosenbach wrote
the district is “committed to provid~
ing continuous learning opportunities.
This is new and we are learning every
day how to do a better job.”
Rosenbach wrote this is an “incred—
ibly challenging time” for the North
Mason community.
“We know our high school seniors
are particularly Worried,” Rosenbach
wrote. “Counselors and staff will work
with each student to ensure they meet
graduation requirements. In addition,
we are working on a plan for gradu-
ation depending on what happens
next.”
MARY M. KNIGHT
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Mary M. Knight Supt‘irintendent
Matt Mallery did not immediately
respond to a query from the She/Ion-
Muson, County Journal.
HOOD CANAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Hood Canal School District. Super~
intendent Nikki Grubbs did not. im—
mediately respond to a query from the
S/w/ton—ll/Iuson County Journal. The
school board’s study session scheduled
for tonight. has been canceled.
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