The Examiner U-46 News Feed

Distance learning item approved by U-46 board

By Seth Hancock
  The Board of Education in School District U-46 unanimously approved, of a $63,400 expenditure from the education fund to use Zoom during distance learning at its meeting on Monday, Sept. 14 which was held electronically due to COVID-19 regulations.
  The item was presented and voted on at the same meeting. The purchase is through CDW.
  As we implemented distance learning in the spring, we identified continued needs for support,” the proposal states. “One identified need is the need for continued synchronous instruction as well as recording asynchronous instruction.”
  The proposal added: “The curriculum and instruction department teamed with other teaching and learning departments to identify Zoom as our resource to provide synchronous and asynchronous instruction. This will also allow our high schools to provide large group online forums with students.”
  The purchase is for one year and includes video webinar 500 and video webinar 1,000. Sue Kerr, the board’s president, asked if that refers to how many can participate in the video conference and Superintendent Tony Sanders said it was.
  Also approved unanimously was a 2020 high school graduate supplement. At the previous meeting, the board approved of around 2,600 high school graduates.
  “We had one student from one high school that did not make it to that list but should have,” Sanders said. “We are asking for approval of this supplement to ensure this student graduates.”