Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Trenton R-9 School District is giving parents the option of sending their students to school in person or through a virtual learning option.
According to information released by the district on Friday morning, Aug. 7, parents and students may choose to attend by remote learning versus physically attending class. The district says patents need to be aware the virtual option is not a self-paced platform and will parallel what is taking place in the classroom. Students will be held to the same attendance standards as those who are attending at the physical school buildings. District staff will be following the guidelines/regulations necessary to be in compliance with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as it pertains to attendance. The guidelines/regulations will also be in place if all facilities are closed due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
Trenton R-9 Superintendent Mike Stegman said the student will see the regular teacher teaching the class although the teacher may not be on camera the entire time as he/she moves around the classroom. He stressed instruction will not be like during the spring when classes were self-paced and, for the most part, were voluntary, especially for elementary students. Most younger students will require an adult to assist them with lessons during the school day.
Stegman said it is unknown at this time how many students will utilize the virtual system and agreed that it is a fluid situation Requiring district officials to continue making decisions as the school year moves forward.
The guidelines/regulations for the virtual learning option, as outlined by the school district, include:
• the student and parent will both be required to sign a daily log sheet for attendance. The logs will be turned in to the district at the end of each week.
• attendance will be taken just as if they were in class at school.
• students who do not participate in their live learning activities and do not produce the daily log may be considered truant from school.
• the minimum amount of educational time is six hours per day.
• if the student attends remotely, he/she will not be able to attend and/or participate in extracurricular activities.
• current plans are to use the Google Classroom format for grades K-12. Students will be required to log into Google Classroom during their normal instructional time.
• remote learning devices will be available to those who are determined to have a need.
• remote hotspots will be available to those who are determined to have a need.
• testing and grading will be required, just as if the student was in the classroom.
• students choosing the virtual learning option will be provided a sack lunch through the school lunch program. The lunch will have to be ordered each day and will need to be picked up outside the school at the designated time (very similar to the lunch program during the spring school closure).
• students who opt into the Remote-Live Learning option will remain on that plan for the entire semester. Changes in delivery system will only occur at the discretion of the building administrator and take place at the semester break.
To enroll a student in the virtual option, parents must complete the form that can be found on the district website www.trentonr9.k12.mo.us to acknowledge they have read, understand and agree to the policies and procedures as outlined. A separate form is required for each student and the form must be returned to the student’s school office by Friday, Aug. 14.
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