WS/FCS prepares for remote learning in case of future winter weather events

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is preparing to transition to remote learning in the case of future winter weather events.

Snowfall over the last week created icy road conditions, prompting Triad school districts to cancel in-person classes. Some, like Guilford County Schools, opted for remote learning days, while others, like Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, simply closed. 

According to WS/FCS Superintendent Tricia McManus, that’s partly because the district had enough extra days built into the school calendar to meet state requirements. But also because she says remote learning is less than ideal. 

“To say that kids are going to spend the day home learning is more of meeting state required hours versus do we really think that that learning is going to be optimal for all students? Is it going to be happening for all students?" McManus said. "And so our goal was not to use remote learning days if we could help it.”

She also said the district has had to scale back on providing technology to students post-pandemic. Not every child has a personal digital device at home anymore.  

But while the district has avoided calling any remote learning days for the last three years, McManus says it has exhausted other options at this point. In order to satisfy the required hours, remote learning will be necessary in the case of future weather events. 

“But it's not just going to be on the computer. I really want parents to know that because we are not one-to-one in our elementary schools. So elementary students are going to need some very meaningful work packets to take home," McManus said. "We never know either what internet connectivity may be or if there are power outages, and so we have to have all of our students really ready for some type of meaningful learning.”

McManus says students will leave school this Friday prepared for a remote learning day if they need one next week. The district will also send out a plan to families and staff for how the past few missed days will be made up. 

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.