Coronavirus Changing How Students ‘Attend’ School
Mar 16, 2020, 2:12 PM | Updated: 6:41 pm
SANDY, Utah – Students and teachers from schools across the state have been preparing for a new reality – remote learning from home.
It’s all part of the “soft closure” Utah Governor Gary Herbert implemented for public schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Starting Monday, a deep cleaning started at every school within the Canyons School District while students were out of the classroom.
“The nice thing is that we get this time, because you can’t use disinfectant… during the day with the kids,” said lead custodial training Todd Muir Lead.
Over 500 custodial teams were dispatched to clean every classroom, locker, restroom and kitchen, while students and teachers prepare to make the transition.
Schools like Midvale Middle used Monday and Tuesday to make sure their students and staff were prepared for the Wednesday launch of remote learning.
“The main things that we are working on right now is having both an online platform, as well as having packets and other materials for families that don’t have full access,” said principal Mindy Robinson.
Students throughout the district will also be using the online learning platform Canvas, which many have already been using. As for students themselves, seniors at Alta High School were staying positive.
“Not a ton is changing, schoolwork wise, but I think being out of school, you can kind of go out and do some fun stuff, as well,” said senior Gabe Crestani.
“It’s kind of going to be a cool experience that I can later on share with my kids someday,” said senior Kate Davis.
Not every student has access to a computer or a laptop. In fact, of the 34,000 student’s in the Canyon School District, 10 percent reported they do not have internet access at home, which is why school officials have been working on a solution the past year.
“We’ve partnered with T-Mobile. We’re providing unlimited data filtered hot spot, we’re also providing a Chromebook, and it really becomes the family’s computer,” said Scot McCombs, director of IT at the district.
As for lunches, cafeteria staff were hard at work Monday, packing grab-and-go sack lunches for any student that wants one, and it’s happening district wide.
“We do soy butter. It’s really good,” one worker said. “They get that they get some chips. They get a cheese stick, and carrots and milk and an orange.”