Area students are bringing the classroom into their living rooms as schools begin online learning while shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, North Fayette Valley third-grader, Mikah Opperman (right) does a little online school work with her teacher, Karen Schmitz (on screen) while her big sister Morganne Molseed, (left) a senior at NFV, works on her own online school work. (Megan Molseed photo)
NFV plans to begin distance learning
By Megan Molseed
mmolseed@thefayettecountyunion.com
As Iowa's confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to climb, Governor Kim Reynolds extended to April 30 business and school closures, during her April 2 press conference. The order also included a further suspension of non-essential surgeries and a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people.
The school closures, which officially took effect on March 15, had been set to expire April 13.
With this recent announcement, the North Fayette Valley school district is working hard to make sure all students have learning opportunities available to them, in order to meet standards critical for a student to continue on to the next grade level.
“We are planning a ‘soft start’ on distance learning next week, with each teacher at the elementary providing learning opportunities for math and reading and each teacher at the middle school and high school providing one learning opportunity for each content area,” noted North Fayette Valley Superintendant, Duane Willhite. “As per the directions from the Iowa Department of Education, (the district) is recommending the activities, however, they are not required.”
