Camas School District adopts, outlines remote start for classes

The Camas School District Board of Directors unanimously approved its remote learning plan Monday night. Here are the highlights:

What will my student’s schedule look like?

Like Battle Ground Public Schools, Camas has adopted a schedule of “synchronous” and “asynchronous” periods for students. Synchronous periods will be held live in a video setting, while asynchronous periods will give students time to work independently or in small groups.

Elementary school students will have their days split into instructional block periods with regular breaks built into the day. Middle and high school students will have half their six classes each day, rotating live versus independent instruction.

Grading and attendance?

District spokeswoman Doreen McKercher said the school district is still hammering out its plans for taking attendance. Grades will return as normal, with elementary school students receiving number grades depending on how they meet standards, and secondary school students back to A through F letter grades.

What other services will the school provide?

The district has periods built into the day to check with students on their social and emotional wellbeing. The district has also moved to a single platform for families to see everything a student is working on and communicate with teachers.

The district is still working on developing its meal program, according to its website, but will continue to provide weekend food backpacks for families in need.

What’s left to figure out?

The district hopes to prioritize an in-person reopening for primary school students and students with special education needs, McKercher said. When it will be safe to do so, however, depends on the trajectory of the coronavirus.

Eventually, the district will move to a hybrid model for all students.

“We’ll just do rolling phases,” McKercher said.