July 19, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
Parents need to let the DeKalb County School District know by Tuesday, July 21 if they plan to opt for remote learning for their children starting Monday, August 3. But can parents who currently want to send their children to school change their minds between July 21 and August 3?
Director of Schools Patrick Cripps and Attendance Supervisor Joey Reeder appeared on WJLE Thursday morning to address this question and many others.
If you missed the program or would like to hear it again click the link below
https://www.wjle.com/reopening-dekalb-county-schools
One caller asked “if something were to change between July 21 and the first day of school would parents who are still planning to send their kids to school have the chance to change and do remote learning since this is a changing situation (COVID-19) everyday?”
“We are not saying you can’t but probably if something changes that drastically between July 21 and August 3 we may all (students) be doing remote learning. We are not locking ourselves in and saying you can’t do this or that but we really need an answer by 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 21 because our principals and counselors have to get the schedules for these kids made for their classes. You can’t do that in just a few minutes. It’s a process that takes several days. We already have parents concerned because they don’t know who their child’s teacher is yet. We first have to see what kind of numbers we have so we need to know by July 21 what your plans are,” said Reeder.
Another caller inquired about the availability of internet access especially for low income families who want remote learning.
“I was wondering if you opt to do the remote classroom, if there are any government or state grants to help low income families get Wi-Fi at their house?”
Reeder explained that chromebooks will be provided to all students in kindergarten through 12th grade this year and hot spots will be made available by DTC Communications for those who don’t have access to the Internet at home.
“We are not aware of any government or state grants to help families but every student will have a chromebook. DTC Communications has provided hot spots and additional hot spots are being worked on right now but we want DTC to announce those locations. They have been great through all this and a willing partner. We certainly appreciate DTC CEO Chris Townson and his board of directors and employees. They have been a big help in providing hot spots,” said Reeder.
“We do want people to realize that if you do not have Internet in your home we will allow you to do remote learning but it will be a very difficult proposition. Each day you will have to go to a hot spot and download class work. It can be done. You can do remote learning without home Internet but it will be quite a chore for you,” added Reeder.