BCPS staff defend virtual-inclement weather plan; district to survey families and refine operations
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Rogers and operations staff outlined device and instruction expectations after two virtual storm days, promising greater guidance on device readiness, clearer staffing memos and a family survey to inform changes to virtual-day practices and IEP accommodations.
Baltimore County Public Schools provided an operational update Feb. 2 on its virtual inclement-weather plan after the district ran virtual instructional days last week due to a major winter storm.
Dr. Rogers said the district communicated repeatedly to families and schools beginning in November and that the department of curriculum and instruction prepared instructional materials and guidance for teachers and families. "Every Chromebook that appeared at a school appeared with a charger," she said, and the technology office deployed processes for real-time replacement of malfunctioning devices.
The district said its middle-school policy generally keeps Chromebooks at school unless a family signs the device out; high-school students transport devices daily. For grades 2 and up, the district's expectation for virtual days is four hours of synchronous instruction; for the youngest learners, staff provided alternative instructional modules and said the district will solicit family feedback via survey to refine expectations and supports.
Board members raised concerns about uneven implementation: some teachers provided direct instruction while others assigned asynchronous tasks and remained available for questions. Dr. Rogers and operational chiefs said guidance will be clarified in the upcoming staffing memo and that the district will follow up on IEP-accommodation delivery during virtual days.
Operations staff described the practical challenges of clearing schools after a storm that combined heavy snow, ice and subfreezing temperatures: many maintenance staff were temporarily mobilized to county and state road clearing efforts; grounds crews worked multiple consecutive days using heavy equipment to remove ice and clear sidewalks; transportation crews cleared bus roofs and lots so buses could return to service. The district publicly thanked AFSCME and facilities staff for their work to reopen nearly all school sites.
District officials promised to publish answers to board questions on Budget 101 and to report back with more specifics about accommodations, charger inventories and any changes to policy or staffing memos.