BISD terminates synchronous, asynchronous instruction

The Breckenridge Independent School District approved a resolution to end synchronous and asynchronous (remote learning) instruction for students. All students of BISD shall return to their designated campus for in-person instruction, no later than Monday, October 19.

The instructional program will terminate at the end of the school day on Friday, October 16, and received approval during a special afternoon board meeting on Tuesday, October 6, inside the BISD administration building.

“When the three weeks progress reports came out, the administration and I begin to have discussions,” Superintendent Bryan Allen said. “We had a large percentage of our students, particularly our remote learners, who were not being successful after those three weeks. Some of our teachers are not serving our face-to-face students well, because they are spending time trying to serve the remote learners.”

Since the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, Breckenridge ISD has had four positive cases among students and five among school personnel of the COVID-19 virus.

The school district cites, “educators have observed that academic performance and progress have significantly declined among students receiving virtual instruction as compared to students receiving in-person, on-campus instructions from professional teachers.” BISD also states that “moral among Breckenridge ISD personnel significantly declined due to virtual instruction during the 2020-2021 school year.”

“A concern of mines is even if the remote learners are getting their grades, what are they really learning?” William Paul, Breckenridge High School principal said. “I definitely have some concerns about how much they are actually learning, or is it just doing what they need to do to get a grade. Those are two different things.”

According to BISD, 60 percent or more of the students at the high school under the remote learning instruction were unsuccessful in passing courses during the first six weeks.

With students returning to in-class learning on Monday, October, 19, BISD cites “on a case-by-case basis, synchronous and/or asynchronous instruction may be made available for a student who provides evidence that he or she cannot attend classes on campus. Due to heightened risk of exposure to COVID-19 by an immunocompromised member of the student’s household or other documented extenuating circumstances, according to the approved resolution.

BISD believes “local public health concerns do not outweigh the well-known educational benefits of face-to-face instruction by professional teachers. Requiring students to return to campus in order to receive in-person instruction from professional teachers is in the best interest of students, Breckenridge ISD personnel, and Breckenridge ISD, according to the approved resolution.

“We’re here to educate kids, and we’re here to get them prepared for the next thing in life,” Superintendent Allen said. “Through the first six weeks, the administrators and I don’t feel that is happening as consistently as it should. The Chromebook is not a replacement for the teachers.”