School closure extended

Area schools ventured into uncharted territory of mass virtual classes after New Mexico’s secretary of education announced Friday all public schools would be closed for the rest of the academic year to slow the coronavirus pandemic.

Area superintendents scrambled to determine how graduation ceremonies would be held, how to determine competency of departing seniors and other logistical hurdles caused by the virus upending the routines of people’s lives.

Education Secretary Ryan Stewart, acknowledging the announcement was “a painful decision,” said the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 had spread in the state and “hadn’t reached a peak.” He also noted there also was evidence of community spread of the illness in several cases. Stewart also said the state was following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to lengthen the closure that began in mid-March.

“This is not a moment anyone anticipated,” Stewart said. “This is not something we would wish on anybody.”

The move wasn't entirely unexpected. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said earlier in the week school closures likely would be extended beyond the initially announced April 6 end date.

Stewart said the state is examining the federal coronavirus relief bill passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump. It might provide funding for the state’s Department of Public Education and local school districts to help students who don’t have access to high-tech devices learn online.

Reached Friday a few hours after Stewart’s announcement, Tucumcari schools superintendent Aaron McKinney said the district is well equipped to transition to virtual classrooms. Whether all students are equipped for online learning is something else.

“We have to see how many kids have that technology at home,” he said.

McKinney said he would meet with the district’s technologist and administrators this week to see how to deal with such potential problems.

He said the district would examine an option to let seniors check out laptop computers until they graduate. McKinney noted AT&T and other cellphone providers have lifted data limits for now, which would benefit students or parents who own only smartphones. The district might contact Plateau Telecommunications on whether it can set up free internet accounts for students who need them.

Logan schools superintendent Dennis Roch said in an email Friday that faculty checked with students’ families about their children’s access to computer devices and internet.

“In response, the district plans to issue devices to those students who require one to complete online coursework, and the district is partnering with Plateau to provide internet service to those student homes which do not currently have access,” he wrote. “We expect that most technological challenges will be addressed before virtual instruction commences on Monday, April 6.”

Janet Gladu, superintendent of San Jon Municipal Schools, said the district would provide a mixture of paper, virtual and telephone instruction.

“Our plans will be listed on the district website as they are approved. We will begin instruction no later than April 13,” she said.

Bonnie Lightfoot, superintendent at House Municipal Schools, said most students there have access to computers and internet at home.

“I have contacted internet service providers on behalf of those who are not and arranged for service to be provided,” Lightfoot wrote in an email Sunday. “Thanks to Plateau for providing two months free for those families. We have also initiated an order of Chromebooks for those students to check out as necessary. The challenge will be for teachers to find ways to interact with their students. We will not introduce any new material via a computer program; teachers will establish virtual ‘office hours’ and be in contact with their students.

“This situation is unprecedented, but the dedication of House teachers is well established,” Lightfoot added. “We will continue to promote a spirit of inquiry and try to lessen regression as teachers focus on critical standards for the remainder of the year.”

Stewart said teachers and support staff would continue to be paid at the current rate during the closure.

Stewart said school districts would determine their own “demonstrations of competency” for students who would be graduating. He said that could be determined through assessments or college entrance exams. The time for students to demonstrate competency would be extended to June 19. Those who fail to do would be offered credit recovery time during the summer.

McKinney said his schools likely would extend instruction time into the summer, especially for struggling students.

“Our biggest focus is our seniors and getting them their credits,” he said. “Our seniors right now are our priority.”

Roch said Logan’s entire senior class already had passed required tests to earn diplomas.

“Some have also completed all required coursework and have either been pursuing electives or earning college credits in dual enrollment courses,” he stated. “For the remaining few, completion of one or two classes is the only element lacking before they are eligible to graduate.”

Gladu said all of San Jon's graduating seniors previously met all requirements, with the exception of credits.

“We have designed continuous learning plans that will assist our seniors in completion of courses,” she said.

Lightfoot said House High School does not have any graduating seniors this year.

“The students who are seniors at (The Learning Center) will be determined based upon the mandatory 24 credits; those have not been waived,” she said. “We will submit our Continuous Learning Plan to NMPED after I collaborate with my teachers at the TLC regarding specific students and their needs.”

Stewart said schools’ graduation ceremonies and proms could be postponed or held online.

McKinney said Tucumcari’s prom “will not happen” but some sort of graduation ceremony would be scheduled, even if it were a virtual one. He was reluctant to guess that would occur.

“We don’t know the timeline of this thing of when the (pandemic) will level off,” he said.

“Logan High School remains committed to holding a graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 after the public health crisis is resolved,” Roch stated. “Other suspended events, such as prom and the senior trip, will depend upon the timing of the coronavirus restrictions being lifted.”

Lightfoot said whether House’s previously scheduled TLC graduation and prom would be held would be based the health order at the time.

“If they need to be rescheduled, that decision will be made in collaboration with my teachers,” she said.

Gladu said: “We will reschedule these activities as appropriate and in accordance with DOH guidelines.”

Additional college entrance exams such as the ACT and SAT would be offered during the summer, Stewart said. Advanced-placement courses would be offered in 45-minute formats online, he said.

School districts would continue their meal-serving programs, Stewart said. Tucumcari served thousands of curbside, grab-and-go meals at its Mesa Cafeteria during the first week of schools being closed. McKinney said that would continue through the rest of the academic year, then would transition as usual to the summer program. For information on children’s meals provided at area schools, go to newmexico.gov/education.

Students with special needs would receive “all feasible supports and accommodations that can be delivered while maintaining safe social-distancing,” a state news release stated.

All spring athletic events also were canceled.