The Bedford City Schools have been back in session virtually now for more than two weeks, and while Superintendent Andrea Celico told the school board there have been some challenges, she had some good news to report about the re-opening process as well.

Celico used a slide presentation during the Sept. 17 regular meeting to help illustrate the progress the district is making in the different aspects of opening up in a virtual setting.

She said on the first day of school, 2,000 students — or roughly two-thirds of the district’s population — were signed in and ready to go at 9 a.m. Celico said the tech people were kept very busy on that first day as there were more than 500 phone calls to the district’s technology HelpDesk. On the second day, the calls to the HelpDesk decreased significantly to more than 100. Altogether during the first two weeks, there were some 1,344 calls to the HelpDesk with 742 tickets resolved by the technology department.

Celico said more than 2500 Chromebooks have been deployed in the district to about 85 percent of the student population. She said the district has set up 38 PCS for People hotspots to help families obtain internet service, and that more are available if needed. She said 10 Kajeet hotspots have been delivered for use at four area childcare centers.

On-site support was also available to parents at the Makerspace area at the high school to allow parents to get technology assistance in person. Celico said many took advantage of this opportunity for help.

“What was nice about it … I looked out from my office and I could see the Makerspace door being opened all day essentially,” she said. “And parents were just bringing their Chromebooks in and our staff (were) able to help them on-site. So, parents were very appreciative of that as well. I know I’m the same way. I like to have someone instruct me as I am looking at (on) rather than on the phone.”

One issue that was particularly concerning for the district is that GoGuardian, one of the online teaching platforms the district is using, has not been working up to par. James Meyers, the head of information technology for the district, said the program, when working correctly, is ideal for what the district needs. The district had been using the program well for the past two years, but he stated that GoGuardian was not prepared for the nationwide influx of users this fall. Meyers said they have had some frank discussions with the GoGuardian, and the company has been putting extra resources toward these issues with the hope of getting them fixed by the end of the month.

Meyers said the district also uses Google Meet as a teaching platform, which is not as robust as GoGuardian, and can require more parent intervention, but is still a viable as the second option.

Another major undertaking for the district during virtual instruction has been meal distribution which Celico said is now in full swing. This includes three bus routes to serve all the communities in the district and two pick-up times at the high school. Those times are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. There were close to 2,000 breakfasts and lunches served during the first few weeks. The new leak-proof bags hold up to four meals at a time.

While most students are attending classes from home, there is still a contingent of special education and preschool students who are attending in-person. When attending, the students are given a temperature check when they arrive and are required to wear masks. Social-distancing practices are followed as well.

To prepare the buildings for safety during the pandemic moving forward, the district has cleaned and disinfected all surfaces and placed dozens of plexiglass shields for protection in the schools. Hand sanitizers were installed in every classroom and at certain entrances. The district also placed 1,400 signs in the buildings as reminders to wear masks, practice social distance, wash hands, and to show which ways to walk through the building. Twenty-six drinking fountains were replaced with ones that have touchless water fillers.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that has been supplied to the building include:
– 570 face shields
– 6,700 mask
– 66,200 gloves
– 125 safety glasses
– 170 gowns
– 935 sanitizing wipe packets/tubs

Celico said the district has been also addressing students’ social emotional needs by having social workers and therapists do well-checks to see how children are faring during this time. The district is also working on establishing a Community Resource room to help with providing supplies and support for families.

Celico said she has heard from teachers that they can’t wait for the students to return, and she acknowledged that teaching virtually has been a challenge.

“Our teachers, I can assure you, are working overtime and very hard,” she said.

In other business, the board:

– Recognized Sam Cardinal as the 2020 Employee of the Year, Brandy Rigby as the 2020 Teacher of the Year, and Brenna McNamara as the district Rookie of the Year. Cardinal is a custodian at the high school, Rigby is a kindergarten teacher at Glendale Elementary and McNamara is a English teacher at Heskett Middle School.

– Heard an update by Celico about the virtual Building Bridges forum that occurred on Sept. 16. She said there were 35 participants who took part in small groups and discussed how the school district can help build social justice in the community. The next forum is scheduled for Jan. 6, although some on the board were hoping to have one sooner so as not to lose the momentum the program has gained.