GLOBE—Governor Doug Ducey announced on March 20 that Arizona schools will be remained closed through April 10 – adding another two weeks to the original delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. While this extension adds more stress to struggling parents and concerned students, the team of educators at Globe Unified School District has been preparing and operating on the assumption that the closure would extend beyond the original two weeks.

Today, teachers and administrators at GUSD are faced with a new challenge. How does school function without being in session?

According to Debbie Leverance, GUSD coordinator of special projects, the schools are working on ways to keep students and parents connected during these unusual circumstances.

On Sunday, March 15, after the Governor announced an immediate closure of all Arizona schools, GUSD scrambled and then reacted. They spent Monday, March 16, communicating and pulling together a last-minute lunch program for students. A program that, thanks to food services and the transportation staff, was able to provide sack lunches at bus stops on Tuesday, March 17.

After figuring out how to feed students, GUSD must now look at continuing their goal of “capturing hearts; empowering minds.” How do they proceed with this plan without classrooms?

“Teachers have been working on establishing contact with families and students,” said Leverance. “People frequently change email addresses and phone numbers and often forget to update that contact information at the schools. Determining how best to quickly and reliably communicate with students and families, as well as find out which students have access to online learning opportunities at home, is critical to planning how best to serve each student.”

For the first two weeks of closure, administrators and staff will not be providing structured learning activities or holding students accountable, but that will change as circumstances progress. “Our goal has been to provide resources to support parents and students who wanted to maintain and continue skills development,” said Leverance. “We used email and social media to both remind students of online resources already in use and adopted (Accelerated Reading and Math, Freckles Reflex Math, Tumblebooks, and more). In addition, we have a facebook group, Globe Teachers Sharing, that we have opened up to anyone interested.”

Part two of GUSD planning will take place this week. “We will be collaborating on plans to ensure our students will be engaged in learning, connected, challenged, and supported,” said Leverance.

“We are looking at a blend of using our existing online resources, supplemented with platforms that enable teachers and groups of students to interact. We will be mindful that we don’t want students to have too much screen time, and understanding that, even when a student has access, that computer access may need to be shared with siblings or a parent trying to work from home.”

With so much to consider and establish, Leverance added that the schools are remaining mindful that some students do not have access to the internet. These students will be provided with activities that can be completed entirely offline.

Formal details are currently being discussed and addressed. “We expect that there will be some glitches, but just as well tell our students, these will be learning experiences that will help us improve.”

GUSD plans to provide structured learning at all grade levels beginning, Monday, March 30.

“During these extraordinary times, our goal is to be providing assistance to families in very challenging circumstances,” said Leverance. “We hope to provide some routine, continuity and social interaction for students and families, not additional stress. While we are really just as unsure as our families about what will happen in the coming months, we want to continue as supportive partners.”

Teachers can be reached via email with the standard form: first name . last name @ globe schools.com. Parents can also call the school office to update phone numbers as well or contact Debbie Leverance directly at 928-402-6070 during normal working hours.