Davis Joint Unified School District plans for online schooling

IMAGE: The Davis Joint Unified School District will release a new Home Learning website with resources for students to utilize on March 20.

By Iris Harshaw,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

The Davis Joint Unified School District will release non-compulsory educational resources for grades K-12 online on March 20. If the school closure extends beyond April 12, the district plans to implement an online school program. Considering Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced, “I don’t think the schools are going to open again,” it is very likely that DJUSD will be starting online instruction.

To prepare for complete online instruction, DJUSD teachers will take professional development courses to learn how to use online teaching methods effectively. Google Classroom and Echo, a program that Da Vinci Charter Academy already uses, are possible tools that the district will utilize for online instruction.

The phrase “can’t bottle the magic” was used by multiple board members to describe the difficulties of transitioning from in-person classes to online teaching. Many people expressed disappointment with the quality of online instruction, but the entire school board agreed that it is imperative to start it as soon as possible.

The school board stressed “equity and access” for all DJUSD students as online instruction is implemented. This means extra accommodations for students in the special education program and widespread availability to technology for students who don’t have personal access.

In the coming week, chromebooks will be available for checkout at the meal grab-and-go stations at Montgomery Elementary, Patwin Elementary, Harper Junior High, and Davis High, which are open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. There will also be an online request form available to secure chromebooks. Further, the district will arrange free wifi for those without access upon request. 

No specific dates were announced for the availability of the wifi and chromebooks, but the district website says that it “is coming very soon.”

In other news, the district expects CAASPP testing to be cancelled this year to COVID-19. The SAT will also be cancelled until June 6.

The decision on how AP testing will be handled is expected to be addressed in a press release from College Board on March 20. One school board employee mentioned the possibility of the AP tests being conducted online this year.

The status of graduation requirements is another issue on students’ and parents’ minds, but as of now, the district has no information on how those requirements will be fulfilled. The school board indicated that they were waiting for the California Department of Education to hand down a decision concerning the requirements.

“This is an unprecedented time,” Associate Superintendent of Instruction Rody Boonchouy said.