Superintendent Jen Willard. (WNG File Photo)
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District is waiting to hear a response from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) regarding the alternative learning days, a program that’s optional for districts throughout the commonwealth.
According to Superintendent Jen Willard, DESE sent out a letter in July to all districts in Massachusetts who have adopted alternative learning days and reads as follows:
“The department is actively in the process of updating guidance related to the development of locally approved alternative structured learning day programs. It will be helpful for you and district leadership to wait until the updated guidance is posted before moving forward with internal discussions. We hope to post the updated guidance by the end of next month.”
Expecting that DESE will inform her by the end of August, Willard is unaware of what the update will involve.
“We truly have no idea what they’re (DESE) going to be saying,” said Willard.
Noting that the school district already has a plan in place, they will adjust to the state’s update.
“We’ll just tweak it based on their guidance,” said Willard.
In May, the district voted in favor of approving alternative learning days. Also referred to as “blizzard bags,” alternative learning days is a solution to when the district is closed due to weather. This program helps the school district meet the requirements of making sure elementary schools students reach the required 900 hours of learning, 990 hours for secondary schools, and a total 180 days.
The school district has approved three days throughout the school that would be used for alternative learning days, where students will do their classwork at home. Willard pointed out that the plan is to have the alternative learning days not be worksheet based, but instead be an extension of the classroom.
In February, the school district gave parents the opportunity to take an online survey regarding blizzard bags. The district received over 500 responses to the survey from parents.
While Willard waits to hear on the update from DESE, despite any possibility of the alternative learning days guidelines changing, she’s confident the program can be successful in Southwick.
“If we can provide high-quality assignments to the students at home, where they’re doing authentic work, then we consider that as an extension of the learning day,” said Willard.
