Steve Holmes/SunnySide Superintendent
During this time of unprecedented school closures, districts across our nation are faced with challenges never before seen. However, one thing is for certain—public schools are as critical as ever to the holistic well-being of the students and the communities we serve.
Schools have become hubs for critical social services for both families and students. For a district such as ours, the current school closures are exposing major equity gaps and the challenge to continue to support our families is greater than ever. Equity gaps in technology, access to food, wrap around services and the challenge to support students so that they continue to meet their academic requirements, are only the beginning of our challenges. These hard truths are playing out in real time as things change on a daily basis.
As our healthcare workers risk their well-being to tend to the sick, and as our food service industry continues to provide communities with access to food—we too, as educators, are standing in solidarity on the front lines everyday along with many other critical industries to ensure the well being of the population we serve. I am confident that our District is positioned to meet the needs of the Sunnyside community.
The truth is that when schools are shut down, low income students suffer disproportionately. Over time, Sunnyside has formed strong partnerships with social service agencies and as a result, we have invested in technology to mitigate the issues of the digital divide. In a recent survey sent to families, we discovered that 82.5% of our students have internet access. That number is a reflection of the efforts made over time with cable companies which allow us to provide low cost internet to our families.
Currently, our 4th – 12th graders have chrome books and students have been able to take them home during the closure. Our teachers are also equipped with laptops and as they navigate through this new way of teaching, they continue to deliver educational opportunities and resources to students. Many teachers and principals have shared videos of virtual lessons, reading books, and creative jingles that they have made up all in a heartfelt effort to make real connections with their students while we continue to practice social distancing.
For the Sunnyside Unified School District School, the mandated school closure is NOT a complete shutdown of school operations and instructional obligations to students. Our staff are expected to engage in work-related activities, and students and families are expected to meet the instructional requirements of their teachers and schools. We are all doing our part to keep our schools operating safely and efficiently. This is uncharted territory for all of us and our District is positioned to lead through the school closures by example. As we navigate through these difficult times, I am proud to stand alongside dedicated educators who are rising to the occasion to continue to serve our community.
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