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Superintendent defends remote-learning, urges safety-focused calendar discussion
Summary
Dr. Gross said student health and safety guided recent remote-learning and two-hour delay decisions; the board agreed to put the school calendar on the next agenda for discussion of snow days and make-up options.
Dr. Gross, speaking for district administration, defended the district’s recent use of remote learning and the option of two-hour delays for inclement weather, saying the board’s primary responsibility is student safety.
"Our number 1 responsibility on the school code is health, safety, and welfare of students," Dr. Gross said, arguing that poor visibility at bus stops and compromised road conditions made staying home or shifting to remote learning the safer option. He acknowledged the academic trade-offs: "Remote learning is never ever ever gonna compare to in person learning," he said, but noted that make-up days scheduled around holidays can suffer from low attendance and reduced instructional value.
Board members expressed mixed views about remote make-up days and a possible balance between in-person and remote options. Some members said they were "fine either way" while others emphasized the different needs of younger students compared with older ones.
Brandstetter and board members agreed to add the school calendar to next week’s agenda for further discussion, including whether to build in planned remote or make-up days, after receiving input from families and township road-condition reports.
No change to the official calendar was adopted at the meeting; the board scheduled a formal calendar discussion for an upcoming meeting.
