Woodson ISD: Doors closed, online open

Woodson ISD will not have class on campus until Monday, April 20, but even that date may be subject to postponement.

Classes began online Monday, March 23, with emphasis on the core classes. Teachers spent the week after spring break preparing to offer their subject areas online. After a staff meeting, via teleconference, on that Monday, teachers began the process of planning remote learning for their students.

If students need to pick up their Chromebooks or physical work, the school will have limited staff on site to distribute classwork. If a student needs individual help, each is encouraged to contact their teacher through provided sources. Teachers and administration will be available to respond to student needs.

The school will be mailing printed coursework to students who are “shelter in place” and do not have access to technology.

Casey Adams, WISD Superintendent, hopes that teachers might, “use this time to try some new ways of teaching/learning without the fear of failing or having the state holding us accountable with STAAR testing.”

Adams shared that the commissioner of education mandated no STAAR testing for 2019-2020. The TEA is giving educators time to get instruction into place. There will be meetings to make certain that special needs students are served. The commissioner also assured that funding would be continued during closures and summer feeding rules apply at this time.

This closure was determined by the school board and administration, as a preventative measure, after the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, was deemed a pandemic and the Gov. Abbott announced a “state of emergency.”

“We are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best,” Principal Brent Mills said.

The campus sent out a travel survey to see if students or faculty traveled to an affected area during the break. They also have sent surveys to assess physical and technical student needs.

On Mondays, teachers will provide physical work by 4:45 p.m. Work will be mailed to Graham, Throckmorton and Breckenridge residents who attend WISD and a staff member will be available at the school for parents of local students to pick up their work.

If students need to pick up technology devices or other items, they should contact the school for a time to do so. Chromebooks have been checked out to most students. All junior high and high school students manage their own devices already.
If closure is to extend beyond Monday, April 20, announcements will be made on the Woodson ISD Facebook page.

Mills commended teachers on the good work during the first week of remote learning and is proud of the students for their participation efforts.