Williamson County Schools, FSSD provide learning resources for students amid closures

As spring break ends in Williamson County Schools and Franklin Special School District and schools remain closed at least until April 3, districts have directed students and parents to use online resources while school is out.

Schools are adapting in the midst of closures and limited gatherings by finding ways to promote learning while students and their families are mostly confined to home.

Last week, Gov. Bill Lee urged all schools to remain closed at least until April 3. On Sunday, Lee also issued an executive order that restricted gatherings of more than 10 people, ordered gyms and bars to close and instructed restaurants to use takeout and delivery services only.

FSSD will hold a "learning packet pickup" drive thru at all of its schools on Tuesday.

FSSD students in fourth through eighth grades will be given Chromebooks to take home as well as grade level assignments, or "learning packets" on Tuesday.

Find the packet pick-up schedule here.

FSSD Director of Schools David Snowden emphasized that the online learning packets are meant to provide academic support while students are away from school.

"Please know that these packets are intended to provide support and continue our learning as we are away from our schools during this time," Snowden said.

"Learning is retained when we consistently practice. We hope you enjoy 'practicing' while you are home. Thank you for being partners in this work — we appreciate your dedication to helping our students succeed."

Snowden said FSSD will get through the challenging times.

"These times are challenging, but as we like to say, we are #FSSDstrong and together we will succeed," he said.

WCS directs students online, curbside pick-up Thursday

WCS Superintendent Jason Golden informed families over the weekend through social media that students can also access learning opportunities on the district Classlink database at https://launchpad.classlink.com/wcstn or on the Student Resource page.

Golden said grade level classroom assignments will be posted on Classlink on Thursday. Elementary assignments will be available by .pdf format, and a print version will be available by curbside pick-up at elementary schools on Thursday. Elementary school principals will announce curb-side schedules this week.

Golden's full academic update can be accessed, here.

Chromebooks will be available for students who do not have online access. More information and a Chromebook check-out schedule will be shared later this week, according to the district. 

In WCS, online learning resources will vary by grade level.

WCS students can access online resources through Google classroom, for example, to find grade level assignments provided by resources like Schoology, Desmos and the Tennessee electronic library, according to Golden.

"Those are just a small handful of examples," Golden said.

"These are not assignments, These are resources," he added. "Grades will not be given."

Golden also explained to parents through social media that district-wide online school is not possible at this time for the district's 41,000 students.

"Public schools generally can't do full-blown online school," Golden said. "We don't have the capacity to do online school for a number of reasons - because of the number of devices we have, because of internet access and some of our rural areas, etc."

It is uncertain when schools will reopen. On March 24, Gov. Bill Lee urged schools to stay closed until April 24, a request that WCS will honor. 

Golden will give updates on Facebook Live March 25 at noon.

This is a developing story.

Kerri Bartlett covers education and issues affecting Williamson County. She can be reached at kbartlett@gannett.com, 615-308-8324 and @keb1414 on Twitter.