Sioux Falls School District to Begin Remote Learning Days This Winter

Old Man Winter be a coming, and we're already getting a taste of what South Dakota has to offer over the next few months in terms of weather with the below-normal temperatures we've been experiencing these past few days.

This year the Sioux Falls School District is taking steps to become less reliant on having to issue snow days when Mother Nature decides to give us a few of her infamous winter weather snow jobs.

Dakota News Now reports that the district has finished laying the groundwork to begin using remote learning days in the event of inclement weather this school season.

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The pandemic forced many school districts throughout the country to begin utilizing remote learning days, and now the Sioux Falls School District is ready to embark down that same path by replacing snow days with e-learning days whenever possible.

According to Dakota News Now, the district wanted to make sure Sioux Falls students had everything they needed physically before making the switch.

Assistant Superintendent Teresa Boysen, told Dakota News Now, “We used the summer to develop how this would roll out. We have Canvas as our learning management platform, and our teachers will post their assignments and everything in that platform by 9:00 in the morning. And then be there to support our students and families throughout the day with any questions, or additional materials they might need,”

The district plans to keep a close eye on long-range weather forecasts throughout the winter months. If it looks like we'll get hit with a severe winter weather storm, the district plans to send students home with electronic devices the day before.

As Dakota News Now reports, the final call will be made the following morning on whether students will stay home and do remote learning or come into school for the day.

Those of us who live in South Dakota know all too well that the weather can be and often is unpredictable. That is why the Sioux Falls School District knows that still having to issue snow days is not out of the question. Should a severe winter weather storm pop up out of nowhere, and students don't already have the necessary devices needed for an e-learning day in hand, the district would then issue a traditional snow day.

With any luck, the new remote learning plan the Sioux Falls School District is now ready to embrace should help prevent the school year from spilling into the early summer.

Source: Dakota News Now