{"id":4633,"date":"2020-11-13T18:37:31","date_gmt":"2020-11-13T18:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/9thstreetjournal.org\/?p=4633"},"modified":"2023-03-27T15:53:11","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T15:53:11","slug":"school-is-online-but-programs-bring-some-kids-together-to-learn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/9thstreetjournal.org\/2020\/11\/13\/school-is-online-but-programs-bring-some-kids-together-to-learn\/","title":{"rendered":"School is online, but programs bring some kids together to learn"},"content":{"rendered":"
Once the Durham Board of Education decided in July to move school online, members began planning learning centers \u2013 supervised spaces where students unable to stay at home could attend virtual classes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe knew there would be children whose parents are essential workers, or who didn\u2019t have anyone at home,\u201d board member Natalie Beyer said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been reading about what other progressive cities have been doing to take care of children, so we pushed hard for it.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Currently, Durham Public Schools funds four learning center sites: at Eno Valley and WG Pearson Magnet elementary schools for students in grades pre-K through 5, and at Carrington and Shepard middle schools for students in grades 6 through 12.<\/span><\/p>\n Local non-profits have set up similar centers in Durham too. Some residents have organized informal sites \u2013 a case of parents helping parents in the face of these unpredictable times. As of this week, DPS centers serve 300 students.<\/span><\/p>\n Like most things throughout this pandemic, launching these spaces required creativity and caution. By combining state guidelines and listening to their students, public school administrators created strategies to guard against COVID infection and help children learn.<\/span><\/p>\n