LM Sept 2020

Rethinking Parent Teacher Conferences: WhyOur District Elected To Have ThemBefore Students Returned To School

Dr. John Petzke, Superintendent Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD #3

With all of the uncertainty surrounding students returning to school for the 2020–21 school year, Prophetstown-Lyndon- Tampico CUSD #3, a district of about 800 PreK–12 grade students located in rural Whiteside county, began its planning efforts by engaging the community about possible return-to- school efforts. When the 2020–21 Return to School plan was finally adopted by the School Board on August 5, it included about 80 percent of students attending school on a blended A/B hybrid rotation. Half the students, Group A, would attend school in person on Monday and Tuesday and participate in remote learning from home for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The other half of students, Group B, would participate in remote learning from home on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and attend school in person on Thursday and Friday. In addition to the A/B rotation students, 20 percent of students and families elected to participate 100 percent in remote learning from home, at least until the end of the first quarter, October 16. The district offered this option as some students are immunocompromised, or the families had real concerns about students returning to in-person learning. And, finally, the last 20 percent of students and families elected to participate in five-day in-person learning at the school. As it turns out, some families, mostly due to family situations, work schedules or day care options, need to have their students attend school five days per week. With three different options for student attendance, Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD #3 decided to schedule parent-teacher conferences on Wednesday, August 18th and Thursday, August 19th before the students attended school for the first day on August 24th. At these conferences, parents were able to meet one-on-one with their classroom teachers, ask questions about their student attendance options and raise questions or concerns before students return to school on Monday, August 24th.

The conferences helped lighten the anxiety and uncertainty parents and students had about returning to school. Meeting in their classrooms, parents and students were able to see how the room was arranged and what social distancing might look like in a classroom space. In addition, families could pick up school provided PPE equipment, classroom materials and chromebooks that would be needed as they looked at starting school. One unanticipated benefit of holding parent-teacher conferences before the start of school was the impact it had on teachers. Students had not attended school since March 17th, and the emergency remote learning in the spring is quite a bit different than what teachers have been planning all summer. Not only were teachers re-energized by connecting with students and families, but the conferences gave teachers an opportunity to share their plans and expectations for what the district has titled Remote Learning 2.0. A much different and engaging learning experience for students and families as we begin the 2020–21 school year - a school year unlike any other!

17 LM September 2020