Ottawa Elementary discusses potential for summer school

Ottawa Elementary School Superintendent Cleve Threadgill started Tuesday’s board meeting by reading questions from parents asking how coverage gaps due to remote learning will be addressed.

One such question came from a parent inquiring about summer school, which Threadgill said is something the board can look at over the coming months.

“I think that’s something to look at next year,” Threadgill said. “We haven’t had it for quite some time, but I think the way we scheduled it before was in August, not July. It could be used to help bridge into the school year.”

Threadgill said this would require a formal plan with discussions between the administration team and the teacher’s union. Another question was asked about a potential return to full-time learning.

“We’ll have to come back to the board with a plan before the year’s over on how we’re going to plan and meet the needs and fill the gaps in of what’s been lost,” Threadgill said. “I wish there was an easy solution but at this point, I don’t know what we can do under the current guidelines. We feel handcuffed, so to speak, when it comes to the lunch periods.”

Threadgill said the district has been trying to answer the lunch question because lunch means masks come off and students need to be spaced apart.