All CCSD students will distance learn full-time to start school year amid COVID-19 concerns

After a lengthy special school board meeting, Clark County School Board Trustees voted unanimously for a full-time distance learning model to begin the 2020-2021 school year which is set to start on Aug.

24.

The school board of trustees met for several hours, remotely, Tuesday, to discuss the plan which was chosen in favor over a hybrid model which included in-person classroom instruction.

Clark County School District staff suggested the distance learning model for safety reasons citing COVID-19 infection rates and concerns for staff and student safety.

I'M.TODD QUINONES.

TRICIA ISOFF TONIGHT..THE NATION'S FIFTH LARGESTSCHOOL DISTRICT..MOVING FORWARD WITH "FULL-TIME" DISTANCE LEARNING....LETS GET TO 13 ACTION NEWSREPORTER JOE BARTELS...WHO IS LIVE AT C-C-S-DHEADQUARTERS NEAR DECATUR ANDSAHARA WITH THE DETAILS..JOE...WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY CANMAKE...THIS IS A QUICK TURN AROUND..FROM THE HYBRID MODEL..WHICH WAS DISCUSSED LAST WEEK..TONIGHT..STUDENTS WILL STAY HOME ANDLEARN..WHEN SCHOOL STARTS..ABOUT A MONTH FROM NOW..THE SCHOOL BOARD..MEETING REMOTELYAGAIN...BECAUSE OF COVID-19CONCERNS...THEY MET FOR ABOUT ABOUT 5HOURS...THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES..IN A UNANIMOUS DECISION...GOING WITH THE FULL-TIMEDISTANCE MODEL..FOR NOW..BUT THERE WILL BE EXCEPTIONSFOR RURAL SCHOOLS WITH LESSDENSELY POPULATED CLASSROOMS..AND THE BOARD WILL REVISIT THISDECISION..IF SCHOOLS MEET CERTAINCOVID-19 HEALTH CRITERIA..INCLUDING POSITIVE CASES..AND TESTING TRENDS IN THECOMMUNITY..THEY WILL REVISIT THIS..PERIODICALLY..AND MAKE CHANGES AS NEEDED..BUT MANY QUESTIONS STILLUNANSWERED..ABOUT THINGS LIKE..SUPPORT STAFF..LIKE BUS DRIVERS..AND STUDENTS WHO CANNOT ACCESSTHE INTERNET FROM HOME.BUT I FEEL LIKE WE DEFINITELYNEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITHDISTANCE-LEARNING RIGHT NOW WENEED TO GIVE PEOPLE PEACE OFMIND AND LET OUR EDUCATORS ANDPRINCIPLES PLAN BUT I ALSO FEELLIKE THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNSTHAT WE BROUGHT UP EARLIER.""KEEP IN MIND MY RULES OUTTHERE ON THE MOWER INDIANRESERVATION, THEY HAVE NOCONNECTIVITY AS IT RELATES TOTHE COMPUTER AND THE CHROMEBOOK THEY HAVE NOTHING OUTTHERE ON THAT RESERVATION."THE SCHOOL YEAR IS SET TO STARTON AUGUST 24TH..IF YOU DON'T HAVE INTERNETACCESS...COX COMMUNICATIONS IS OFFERINGA DISCOUNTED INTERNET PACKAGEWITH A FREE MODEM RENTAL..FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES..WE WILL POST THAT INFORMATIONON OUR WEBSITE KTNV DOT COM.REPORTING LIVE JOE BARTELS 13ACTION NEWS.