Rockdale board approves remote learning

In a special board meeting July 27, the Rockdale School Board approved plans to have students start the school year in a remote learning setting.

The only “no” vote came from the only board member to have a student enrolled in Rockdale School. In a statement to The Herald-News, board member Ahmed Aich-Sandino said, “The taxpayers pay for their children to be taught in person, and the district stands to lose a lot of money from the current plan."

The board of education had previously rejected a proposed blended learning schedule which had class sizes cut in half, with half of the students attending in-person school for five hours two days a week and the other half attending another two days.

Several parents who attended the special board meeting also voiced frustration over the remote learning plan, expressing concerns on how they would work full time and facilitate what looks to be a five-hour online day.

The district also faces a possible loss of $310,000. In an email to The Herald-News, Superintendent Paul Schrik explained the projected loss the district could suffer.

“Last spring the district lost $72,000 from its specific revenue, Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax," Schrik said. "This tax accounts for just over 30% of the districts revenue, the prevailing opinion across the state in districts like ours is to budget for a loss of 25% in this tax, this is a projected loss of $310,000.”

Schrik also said the district would probably lose at least another $10,000 in EBF Funding.

Rockdale School district received $70,000 from the CARES Act, which was used to provide continued social work services over the summer and provided professional development for staff, Schrik said.

The district has purchased Chromebooks for every student and have hot spots for students who do not have internet access.

To date no students or staff have tested positive for Covid-19, Schrik said.

When asked if he was optimistic that school would return to in person learning soon, Aich-Sandino said, “I sure hope so, every bar in Rockdale is open, but the school isn’t."