The Owensboro Public Schools Board of Education is preparing for a variety of possibilities for the 2020-21 school year. Though currently uncertain about what next school year will look like, board members approved parent/caregiver surveys regarding Non-Traditional Learning (NTI) and said they are working on a guidance document for teachers to provide the best possible learning experience for OPS students next year.
First, though, Interim Superintendent Matthew Constant during Thursday’s board meeting that OPS is currently planning for graduation ceremonies on or around July 24 for all three of the district’s high schools.
As for next year, the Kentucky Department of Education left it to the discretion of each school district to decide on one of four available plans — ranging from in-person instruction to online learning or a combination of the two — that would work best for them.
Constant said OPS was following KDE’s guidance in formulating a plan, but that the district was not ready to announce any immediate decisions about the next school year’s learning layout.
However, the district will soon conduct a survey that will go out to all OPS parents and caregivers regarding NTI and how it went during the previous school year. That survey is set to go out in mid-June.
Depending on what route OPS takes for the next school year, it’s possible that the current school calendar could be modified.
“If there’s a change, we’ll propose it in our June sets of meetings to give families a chance to prepare,” Constant said.
The decision about the upcoming academic year could also impact the number of days OPS needs certain employees, aside from educators, to work.
At this time, there will be no changes made regarding the structure of OPS employees’ pay periods.
The board approved a motion to file an NTI application to the state for the 2020-21 school year in an effort to be proactive. Constant said KDE hadn’t issued specific guidance about applying for NTI ahead of time, but the commissioner of education said the state would be lenient about districts using NTI days during the next school year.
Filing ahead of time also gives the district more time to prepare for the best possible learning experience for their students, Constant said.
In line with staying prepared for the possibility of online learning, the district is also working on creating a guidance document for OPS teachers and staff regarding NTI. Constant said this will be effective in helping both teachers and students partake in a positive learning experience next year, regardless of what style of learning that may entail.
