Atlantic Schools Superintendent Steve Barber reviewed the district’s Return To Learn plan at Wednesday’s school board meeting.

“Return to Learn,” he said, may include options for summer school, enrichment activities, or other opportunities designed to address the needs of learners. Barber said school Districts are required to have a continuous learning plan (for online learning), as well as a “Hybrid” and “traditional” plan.

In addition, districts must have a “Re-opening” plan. Those are specific actions outlined by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Barber said also, through the Federal Cares Act, the district received a one-time payment of $218,675. Those funds can be used for expenses that were incurred to the closure of schools as the result of COVID-19, including health and safety expenses, technology needs, requirements for IDEA (equity), and to pay for specific building needs.

A Continuous Learning Plan must be approved by the Department of Education (DOE) by July 1, 2020. Barber says there are no voluntary options, and the plan must include grades along with attendance information. Steve Barber says the biggest challenge for the off-site learning experience is the need for accessibility and equity. He said he and Information Technology Director Roger Warne, have been exploring options for wireless internet “hot-spots.” One option is a wireless transmitter on-top of the nearby water tower.

The other option is a proposal from Mediacom to install internet in homes currently without wi-fi, for just $10 per month.

Barber said if the District goes with Verizon, it would cost $30 for the device & $40 per month for each hot spot, for a minimum of six months. The district would then own those “hot spots.” He said the idea that the district does not have accessibility “Is really not a choice right now, if we’re going to get an approved plan by the DOE.”