MADISON – Parents of students in Madison City Schools are getting a little more insight into how the school district plans to handle e-learning over the next few weeks.

MCS leaders have been finalizing a plan in response to Gov. Kay Ivey’s order last week for public K-12 schools to implement plans, beginning Monday, to finish the school year through distance learning.

Alabama Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey said last week the state is working with local superintendents and their staffs to make sure there is a plan in place “for every school, for every child to continue their learning, to close out their school year, to graduate our seniors on time.”

“Madison City students will face this new paradigm shift next week under a new framework, MCS interim superintendent Eric Terrell said. “With the state issuing this alternative school format right before the start of Spring Break, our teachers will have virtual workdays on April 6-8 to make final preparations. April 9 will be the official beginning of e-learning for Madison City Schools.”

Terrell said the teachers and students will continue to use Google Classroom as the primary platform for e-learning. “Our district has developed an academic guide that provides e-learning expectations for the remainder of the school year,” Terrell said. “Parents and guardians will be getting more information on this from their child’s school soon.”

Terrell added that a COVID-19 School Closure FAQ document has been placed on the school district’s website for people to download that will answer several questions. One of those deals with how the district will handle seniors and graduation.

The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) has issued the following statement for seniors in the graduating class of 2020: “Seniors who are on track to graduate and in good standing as of the third nine-weeks reporting period will be considered ‘as meeting the graduation requirements’ for the state of Alabama.”

If seniors are failing graduation requirements, then they should only focus on those remaining graduation requirements.

MCS officials still hope to keep the high school graduation ceremonies for both schools on May 18 at the VBC. If they do have to push that date back, it will be rescheduled for June 29.

Another issue the FAQ document addressed is assignment of grades through the e-learning period. The school district has decided not to assign grades.

“During this unprecedented time, we do not want to add any additional stress to families during this already very stressful time,” it read. “The purpose of e-learning during this time is to close gaps and strengthen the foundation as students work toward mastery of critical skills that are needed in order to move onto the next grade level or course. Teachers will focus on encouraging all students to participate in the learning to ensure that they have mastered the critical standards.”

For students who still need a Chromebook or WiFi hotspot, Terrell said parents can request what they need by filling out a form online to have the device delivered to their home. The deadline to complete the form is Sunday, April 5. All details can be found by clicking here. 

Terrell also announced that the school district’s feeding program will resume April 7.  “I want to thank our church partners and volunteers for their wonderful outreach and continued support of MCS students and families,” he said.

“There may be some bumps along the way. That is inevitable. Please bear with us as we strive to support you and your child,” Terrell added. “The next seven weeks presents a challenge that we have never faced. But it also presents an opportunity for all to pull together in a way that we have never before. Let us take this opportunity to show patience, understanding, collaboration and empathy as we work through this together.”