APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the city of Appleton.
To consider a return to in-person learning, Appleton schools superintendent Judy Baseman says a downward trajectory is essential.
“We need to do what we know works. Wearing face coverings, practicing physical distancing, avoiding group gatherings, maintaining good hygiene.”
Until the district sees a downward trajectory, it continues to work on improving virtual learning.
The district has encountered and overcome challenges regarding technology.
One challenge the district continues to work on is internet accessibility.
“The number one thing that we can do to assure equity in this digital learning environment is to make sure that everybody has broadband internet access,” Appleton schools director of technology services Matthew Zimmerman said.
The district wants to assure families that they are able to supply everyone with internet access if they do not have it already.
“We’ll make sure that you have a hotspot. My sense is that families without any internet access are covered. What we are seeing more requests for are families who have not enough access to the internet,” Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman says the district is seeing more instances of bandwidth being stretched, particularly with families who have parents and other children working from home.
The district says it continues to work with these families, but students with no internet remain the priority.
Some board members are worried the district is not moving quickly enough to meet the needs of the community.
“When I hear the word ‘will be’ and ‘in the future’ it really worries me because we’re neck deep in it already. I hope there’s a real urgency,” Appleton school board member Barry O’Connor said.
The district wants to assure families that there is a real urgency.
The Appleton school district says families can expect a survey to be sent about internet accessibility this week.
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