Schools up technology during closures

Hopkins County schools are utilizing technology to ensure students don’t lose ground in their studies during extended closures due to precautions being taken regarding COVID-19. Most districts are utilizing online learning resources with paper packets for those students without internet service at home.

HOPKINS COUNTY

Como-Pickton Consolidated ISD has links for online learning resources available on its website: https://www.cpcisd.net/o/cp-cisd/page/instructional-resources-for-families. A list of online resources to assist with homework are also provided. Students who do not have access to internet services can pick up homework packets from 10-11:30 a.m. Thursdays. Parents should pull into their child’s school parking lot and remain in their vehicles. CPCISD staff will deliver homework packets to your vehicle.

Cumby ISD staff called students’ homes last week and compiled a list of student technology needs, according to Superintendent Shelly Slaughter. InTouch by CumbyTel is installing a wifi hotspot at the high school and setting up other wifi hotspots outside city limits, Slaughter said. These will be set locations for families to sit in their vehicles.

“We have many kiddos; we have a lot who take devices home, but that doesn’t mean they have internet,” Slaughter said.

The school also has a Zoom account with room for 300 members to join for school board and other meetings, Slaughter said.

Miller Grove ISD has taken several different steps towards providing educational materials for children who don’t have internet. According to elementary Principal Jaime Fox, students have been picking up paper packets with homework to complete each week. Technology Director Davy Moseley also “turned up” the school wifi network and encouraged those who would like to use the internet to do so in their vehicles from the school parking lot.

North Hopkins ISD is providing distance learning opportunities online and activating hotspots to allow easier internet connections to its students. Students can also come to the school parking lot to access the district’s wifi. Superintendent Darrin Jolly said district staff is focusing on widening access and maintaining relationships more than distributing homework packets and assigning grades, although packets will be available.

“We just want to focus more on communicating love and assistance to our families,” Jolley said. “We are focusing more on relationships with our district’s families than on taking grades.”

Saltillo ISD became aware that most of their 280 students in the district do not have reliable internet after receiving completed technology surveys from 153 students via the web. The district followed up on the telephone with the remainder of the students regarding an educational plan. Saltillo is now handing out paper packets at the school from 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays and accepting them back on Fridays, according to Superintendent David Stickels. They may explore in-person instruction of no more than 10 in the future but have not made any decisions at this time.

For Sulphur Bluff ISD secondary school, more instruction will be online except for those students who have little to no internet access at home. Those students will receive paper coursework when meals are delivered. Elementary students will have more paper coursework.

A computer lab set up in the gym will also be open for groups of 10 or fewer to use for class if they have no internet service at home.

Sulphur Springs ISD is currently assessing technology needs of students and determining who needs internet access or a device to use for assignments. An email went out to all students Monday to determine device and internet availability. All teachers have been assigned a homeroom and are responsible for contacting their group of students to give assignments. For those who do not have a device or internet access, times will be available to stop by SSISD to pick up a device or get help connecting to wifi.

TEXAS A&M

Texas A&M University-Commerce has moved all classes online through the myLeo Online learning management system. Students who have questions can call 877-310-8174.

“Students of A&M-Commerce, your academic preparation and progression towards your degree is our priority. The university is committed to ensure our students receive what they need from this institution to succeed,” said President Mark Rudin in a statement.

All intercollegiate athletics events, all campus events and state agency-related conferences have been cancelled through the end of the spring semester. Updates for the university will be posted in the “Stay Healthy Lions!” section of the school’s website at tamuc.edu.

Further, the university announced that spring commencement ceremonies are postponed. They are currently rescheduled for December.

“We take great pride in our commencement traditions, and we don’t want you to miss out on the opportunity to celebrate your accomplishments with family, friends, fellow students, faculty and staff of the university,” Rudin stated.

Anyone with questions regarding graduation services should contact Linda King at linda.king@tamuc.edu.

PARIS JUNIOR COLLEGE

In a statement released Monday, Paris Junior College announced the live transition to online classes.

“We are proud of our faculty stepping up to adapt to these difficult times and deliver all their classes remotely,” said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. “Our Information Technology team has also been working very hard to assist in this transition.”

Coursework and lectures can be found through the Blackboard online learning management system. Instructors will use Zoom to reach out to students.

Workforce programs that require hands-on training, such as welding, is also offering lectures online and will schedule lab time by appointment. Details on lab appointments will be made available at a later date, college officials stated.

Updates and contact information is available at the PJC website at www.parisjc.edu/covid-19.

—Reporters Taylor Nye and Todd Kleiboer contributed to this report.