Norman Public Schools Superintendent Nick Migliorino was our speaker!
Click on the headline above for more meeting details and photos.
To watch Nick's presentation, click on this YouTube link: NPS Superintendent Nick Migliorino
Jane called our June 23 online meeting to order at 7:10 a.m. with 45 participants! It's our last regular meeting before induction of new year's officers on June 30!
Unfortunately, one of The Trails employees tested positive for COVID-19 so Jane will be checking to see if plans has changed for having an in-person meeting at the clubhouse on June 30. Plans are to also live stream the upcoming meeting on Zoom. Stay tuned!
Mark Sandifer led our invocation and Polly Christian the Pledge of Allegiance and Four-Way Test. Thanks guys!
Keith Busking reminded everyone to watch their email today for a link to vote for their favorite member for the Nancy Chess Award for community service. Taylor Mauldin Wagner will resend email with form to order Rotary swag (apparel, mugs, etc) as a club fundraiser. Jane reminded us the virtual District 5770 conference is this weekend. Details in our email. Mary Sallee noted that the deadline is June 30 to give to Rotary International Foundation to help with programs like Polio Plus. The club is seeking 100% participation of at least $10 each.
Mary Sallee also added a little music to our morning with the Rotary Welcome Song. Thanks for keeping us in practice!
Our Program
Jane introduced Dr. Nick Migliorino (Dr. M), superintendent of Norman Public Schools to give us the latest on school news. Nick has been a teacher and administrator at NPS on and off since 1993-1994 school year. He has been superintendent for the last four years.
District details:
- In the last 4-5 years school student population has grown by about 150 which is a reverse of the previous few years.
- NPS has 24 sites, 16,200 students (3.5-22 years of age) and 2,000 staff
- The 2020-2021 school year budget has been cut by $3.5 million due to state revenue cuts. However, 50% of that will be met with federal dollars as part of pandemic relief funding.
As Dr. M said, on March 13, 2020 the world changed. Schools did not return from spring break. NPS served 55-70K meals a week and continues to do so, although at a reduced number in the summer.
NPS's two high schools had a virtual graduation but will have an in-person graduation with social distancing this Friday and Saturday at Harve Collins stadium. Dr. M said it's important to celebrate with the seniors and their families. He has a graduating senior as does club member Jeff Bryant! Congrats!
The self-quarantine required a pivot to emergency education and learning. It's not really distance learning because there wasn't time for instructors to plan curriculum like they normally would for online teaching. Dr. M expressed thanks to parents and grandparents who helped their kids through that. He noted we are in the process of reinventing 100+ years of teaching.
Dr. M acknowledged that because of voters and bonds investments over the last few years, the district has the technology and devices to make the pivot. Other districts did not.
Next year: Dr. M said they are preparing for several option for the 2020-2021 school year. NPS has a 40-50 member task force working on this right now. The goal is to have a plan by early July so families can make choices.
NPS has implemented two learning platforms SEESAW and CANVAS to make it seamless for teachers, parents and students to use the same platform whether instruction is in class or online.
Dr. M's goal is for everyone to come with the same level of excitement no matter their circumstances. He said parent/grandparent help is needed to reinforce social distancing rules when students are at school. There will be protocols in place but flexible enough so teachers can manage 20-30 kids at a time. He agrees that many students will be farther behind in their learning due to the pandemic and summer break, but said teachers will assess each student and work to catch them up.
Another concern is for students studying fro home that their home has connectivity. Some families don’t want a connection to the Internet. All students will receive a device, and those without Internet connections will receive instrucitons on a thumb drive. He acknowledged those students will miss out on the live conversation and social interaction of a live online instruction, but will have access to recordings of instruction.
The greatest health risk may be to teachers/staff, as the younger population doesn't seem to have as high a risk of COVID-19 infection. NPS may include thermometers in student packets. Teachers may scan for temperatures a several times during the day. As Dr. M said, it won't be full proof, but should help lower risks of infection.
Athletic and other school activities are beginning to open up in phased approaches because they are important to keep students engaged at school.
To sum it up as Dr. M said, "We're taking it one step at a time." He appreciates the increased student involvement in district plans and school programs.
Thanks Dr. M for all you and your team are doing to keep our students, teachers and staff safe and students caught up on their learning.