Board approves a four-step plan for virtual switch

In preparing for the event that the Wittenberg-Birnamwood School District might not have enough substitute teachers and would need to go to virtual learning, Superintendent Garrett Rogowski proposed a four-step plan at the Sept. 28 school board meeting.

Step one would be to utilize people who are not classroom teachers, such as other staff and board members in the district. They would work with a teacher who might be quarantined but still able to communicate lesson plans.

Step two would allow canceling just a classroom for a period of time. Ideally, the rest of the school would want to still operate and take more precautions for social distancing, but this would allow the option of not closing the entire school.

Step three would be to close a building, but not the whole district. WBSD has three separate buildings, so if there was a need to close the high school, for example, the two elementary/middle schools could remain open.

Step four would be to make the districtwide decision to close in-school instruction and go totally to virtual learning.

The schools have the ability to make minor changes without going to the board for approval, but this four-step plan would define the course of action needed, should the pandemic cause a major disruption for students and teachers.

“We are starting to see more substituting needed in the elementary and middle school level,” said Rogowski.

Vicki Haas and Randy Berndt, principals at the Wittenberg and Birnamwood elementary and middle schools, respectively, have been already filling in as needed, sometimes for longer than a couple of periods, said Rogowski.

“Sometimes we fill in for several days for teachers when we have no substitutes available,” said Haas.

According to district secretary Joy Hartleben, an associate’s degree and a substitute permit from the state Department of Public Instruction is needed to become a substitute teacher. Of the 34 substitutes able to work for WBSD, only 20 are active. Hartleben noted that most who are currently unavailable are providing daycare for family or friends to help out during the pandemic.
Rogowski noted that WBSD operates five days a week, while many other districts are open fewer days.
Feedback from the staff is to allow for extra time to prepare for the virtual component for teaching, according to Rogowski. Schools are able to get this time with a waiver from DPI.

Rogowski asked the board to approve using the Friday dates of Oct. 16, Oct. 30, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11 as non-student contact days. Teachers will be able to come to school and prepare virtual learning lesson plans with all the resources available for them. Rogowski noted that teachers are currently staying after school or working at home to prepare virtual lessons.

“The biggest frustration the teaching staff has is the challenge of writing lesson plans for both face-to-face and virtual instruction,” said Rogowski. “Even the most techno-savvy teachers are finding it challenging to devote the time needed to prepare for the virtual classes.”

The board approved the four step plan.

FYI
People wanting to be considered for a substitute teaching position should fill out an online application on the district website at www.wittbirn.k12.wi.us or contact district secretary Joy Hartleben at 715-253-2213.