Education News

EDUCATION 2020 Superintendent reflects on e-learning experience

‘Students became creative, innovative and so did teachers’

BY JEFF HELFRICH

jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

Oregon school district students officially finished their semester on Wednesday, but Superintendent Tom Mahoney said he won’t know the impact of e-learning until he can get them back into the classroom.

The COVID-19 pandemic closing schools forced the district to conduct the final two months of its schooling online. New coursework ended a week early to give students a chance to finish incomplete work.

“We don’t have final data yet on incompletes,” Mahoney said. “There were parts that were really good for us. Students became creative and innovative and so did teachers. In some ways there were positives that came out of it. I’m so proud of our staff. Everyone worked to make it as easy as possible for parents.”

Mahoney said he “worries greatly” about the impact that e-learning had on students’ educational journeys. He has no idea what the effect was, but said the district’s current focus is determining that.

The change showed weaknesses in Oregon’s system, Mahoney said. Some students and teachers didn’t have the necessary access to the internet. Some students were provided with paper learning materials and did better with that. Teachers were fielding questions from students from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.

TOP LEFT: Oregon School District Teacher Kimberly Radostits works with a student online via Zoom. Photo provided. TOP RIGHT:

Norah Sosa, a first grader at Oregon Elementary School, gets some help from her mom, Elizabeth, as she uses her Chrome Book for e-learning at home. Photo by Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

“The work took different amounts of time for each student,” Mahoney said. “It depends on how they learn. It was a lot more work for teachers. If a teacher had five kids struggling, they don’t have time to have those meetings. We took attendance, even though it wasn’t required by the state. We tried to stay consistent.”

Mahoney said if he had to do e-learning again and had more time to prepare, he’d involve teachers more in the planning and survey students and families on what their needs are. Students with more needs would be assigned to a tutor-like staff member.

Some parents had to get acquainted with the e-learning programs to help their kids. Mahoney said they weren’t prepared for that and more support like FAQ videos could be done if needed again. Something to supplement in-person interaction would be needed as well.

“We have to come up with something for kids’ social and emotional needs,” Mahoney said.

Oregon is still holding out hope that it can hold summer school, which is slated to start July 6, in person. Mahoney hopes the Governor’s phase four reopening plan will allow it.

“The state superintendent has told schools to plan on being virtual, but those students usually struggle with online learning,” Mahoney said.

Mahoney has a few scenarios in mind if the schools can’t do full in-person instruction in the fall. One is a delayed in-person opening with virtual learning to start the semester. Another is a hybrid model with “A and B” days where half the students are at the school on a given day.

The third scenario involves an opt-in opt-out style where families would make the decision on whether their children attend in person and those that don’t would learn online.

COVID-19 & RECREATION Mt. Morris’ Let Freedom Ring falls to pandemic

BY JEFF HELFRICH

jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

Let Freedom Ring announced last week that it will be canceling the 4th of July Festival this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak with the community’s safety in mind.

“As a committee we had to weigh different factors and one was if our community would be able to support our event,” a press release said. “We will still be trying to do little events throughout the rest of the year. Check our Facebook page for updates.”

“None of these are ideal,” Mahoney said.

Mahoney announced to families of high school seniors Wednesday plans to do a drive-in graduation ceremony at the Blackhawk Center on June 19. The district has contacted an audio video company that will provide a camera, projector and big screen.

The students’ speeches will likely be pre recorded and efforts are being made to be protected from inclement weather, after rain impacted a similar graduation ceremony at Forreston High School this week. Mahoney also said that eighth grade promotion has been canceled.

LFR is still planning on doing flocking and having a virtual run.

Call or text 815-275-3360 and tell them the name and address of the yard you want to flock. The welltrained flamingos will stay in your friend’s yard for 24 hours.

LFR will be holding a virtual run from June 1 until July 4. It is open to anyone, anywhere. Runners can run or walk the distance of their choice at their own pace. You will keep track of your distance on an app. Use your treadmill or get outside to hit the pavement. Awards will be sent out. More details will follow on the LFR Facebook page.

LFR will also be active with PorchFest, Straw Fest and the Mt. Morris Jamboree (Friday night concerts) depending on what happens with COVID-19.

“The LFR committee will be hard at work for the 2021 festival and hopes to see you there,” the press release said.

COVID-19 & RECREATION Ogle County Fair cancelled due to COVID-19

Board members delayed decision for several weeks

BY JEFF HELFRICH

jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

The Ogle County Fair Association’s three focuses are community, family and friends. In efforts to protect those things, it cancelled its annual fair for the first time in 167 years.

OCFA Publicist Christine Carter said the board decided unanimously on May 15, and delayed its decision by weeks in hopes the fair could still be held.

“It was a very sober discussion with pros and cons as far as managing health and safety,” Carter said. “There would have been so many factors that we would have had to implement between now and the fair.”

Carter said the state phase of reopening that would allow the fair to happen would have “cut it close” on being in place by the time of the July 29 to Aug. 2 fair.

“Our focus has always been on the health and welfare of our communities, families and friends,” a Facebook statement from the OCFA said last week. “While we strive each year to put on the best and most affordable fair, the global impact of the COVID pandemic has created

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media TOP LEFT: Demolition derby cars battle in front of full grandstand during the 2019 Ogle County Fair. The demo derby is always a popular attraction at the fair. TOP RIGHT: A goat being shown by Kyra Rimstidt of the Hub Hickory Nuts 4-H Club bleats as it competes

in the junior show at the 2019 Ogle County 4-H Fair.

necessary action.”

Sanitizing the venue, increased social distancing, sanitation stations, temperature and health screening were factors considered.

The board said it was extremely saddened to have to make the decision. Health risks and added layers necessary for safety far outweighed the benefits of having the fair.

“We could have never expected this to happen but putting our fair goers at risk would never be worth it in the long run,” OCFA President Tom Simpson said. “Safety has to come first. We are all looking forward to next year and making it the best fair Ogle County has ever seen.”

Reaction from the public to the decision has been mixed. Many have reached out with positive support of the decision, but others were disappointed.

“But we haven’t seen anger,” Carter said.

One event that will still be happening is the annual 4-H competition that usually takes place at the fair. But it won’t be in conjunction with the OCFA.

The Ogle County 4-H will be planning it and managing it on its own. Carter said she was unsure how it will look.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT Ogle County Courthouse, Annex offices reopening

The offices of the County Clerk and Recorder, Treasurer, Supervisor of Assessments, Animal Control, County Board Chairperson, County Board Vice-Chairperson, Planning and Zoning and Solid Waste will reopen to the public on Monday, June 1.

While COVID-19 is still a public health concern; these offices will be following the guidelines from the CDC and Ogle County Health Department. Before entering the building, a mask will be required and social distancing procedures will be required and in place.

In an effort to be proactive and to better protect the public and county employees these departments may have operational changes with restrictions and limitations due to COVID-19 that the public will need to follow.

The fair is held each year just west of Oregon. Mayor Ken Williams called the decision “sad and difficult.”

He’s unsure what the fair does for the city’s economy each year numbers wise, but that it does attract visitors from all over the area and helps hotels, restaurants and gas stations. He was hoping there was still a chance the fair could happen.

“It’s part of our community,” Williams said. “It’s going to be missed but next year it’ll be back and better than ever.”

Please reach out to each individual office for further clarification.

Animal Control – 815-732-1185 County Clerk – 815-732-1110 County Recorder – 815-732-1115 County Treasurer – 815-732-1100 Planning and Zoning – 815-732-1190 Solid Waste – 815-732-4020 Supervisor of Assessments – 815-732-1150 County Board Chairperson & Vice-Chairperson – 815-732-1111