Published in the July 25, 2018 edition.
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD – Although most people seem happy with the School Department’s “Learn Anywhere” approach to snow day school cancellations, not everyone is on board with the program. The School Committee heard from two parents last night who expressed surprise and disappointment at a decision last month to extend the program for two more years.
Under the program, students use online “distance learning” to complete school work at home on days that school is cancelled due to inclement weather. As a result, snow days do not need to be made up by adding days to the end of the school year.
The School Committee received in their packet for last night’s meeting a compilation of parent and student comments along with the data from a survey seeking feedback on the program’s first year.
The survey data was also discussed at the June 26 School Committee meeting, as was the idea of putting together an advisory committee in the fall that could study and evaluate the survey data and responses. The advisory committee would also provide some guidance and recommendations to the school administration for the continued implementation of the program.
Last night’s discussion came on the heels of a vote at that June 26 meeting to continue the Learn Anywhere program for another two years. Last night’s discussion of the program began during the public participation period at the start of the meeting.
Rhiannon Rossi of 10 Converse St. said that she has two children who attend the Walton School. She said that her daughter is on an individualized education program (IEP).
“I was very disappointed to learn that there was a vote to continue the program at the last meeting,” Rossi said. “The vote was taken without any notice to the public and without addressing the numerous concerns that parents have expressed.”
Rossi said that she has been voicing her concerns for months and did not understand how the program was deemed a success and worth continuing without addressing these concerns.
Specifically, Rossi said that she felt that students on IEP’s were being overlooked and discriminated against in the Learn Anywhere program. She said that her daughter could not complete the Learn Anywhere assignments at home without the specialized help of a trained teacher and as a result fell behind other students.
Suzie Veilleux of Aborn Avenue also said that she was surprised that a vote was taken at the June 26 meeting to continue the Learn Anywhere program, as it was not on the agenda to be voted on and she felt that the School Committee was not in possession of sufficient information to make a decision.
Veilleux stressed that she did not have a problem with the program but was troubled by the process that was followed and the fact that a vote was taken to continue the program for two more years.
She maintained that while the program worked well for most participants, it did not work well for everyone, especially kids with IEPs. She said that she felt that the program should be modified in light of the comments that have now been made available.
School Superintendent Doug Lyons addressed some of the concerns brought up by Rossi and Veilleux when Learn Anywhere came up on the agenda later in last night’s meeting meeting.
He said that it is the administration’s responsibility to figure out how to address those concerns raised and they are in the process of doing that. He said that looking at student access and engagement with the Learn Anywhere program was one of the most important things that will need to be addressed when school resumes in the fall.
Lyons said that the comments voiced last night along with those collected with the survey would prompt improvements in the program. He said that the advisory committee that will be created in the fall will also look at ways to improve the program.
School Committee member Greg Liakos defended the School Committee’s vote at the June 26 meeting to continue the program. He said that it was not unusual for the superintendent to make a recommendation and for the School Committee to then vote on that recommendation. He said that at the time of the vote, the School Committee had seen the survey and heard testimony from parents.
Chairman Thomas Markham said that he appreciated all of the comments, including points of disagreement. He said that the decision to continue the Learn Anywhere program “was not made in a vacuum.” The purpose of that vote, he said, was to allow Lyons and the administration to work on things that needed to be improved in the program.
Markham said that the School Committee’s next role in the process will be to develop a “charge” for the advisory committee to follow.
He maintained that the overall positives and strengths of the Learn Anywhere program showed it to be a good initiative that was worth improving. He said that the data and comments received show that the program is “overwhelmingly supported but there are holes that need to be addressed.”
Lyons added that he and Markham will be discussing the size and composition of the advisory committee. He anticipated that it would consist of 10-16 members and offered assurances that parents and students would be represented as well as teachers and administrators.