By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson USD 308 is committed to making education happen for its students regardless of their economic challenges, even if there is some anxiety that causes parents to want to keep their children at home, but those same parents can't afford high speed internet connectivity.
"If a student is in the circle of, I'm going to stay home, because of whatever reason and I don't have access, we're working as a district to make sure that we provide some different ways that kid can still access education," said Krystal Young, director of special programs with USD 308. "Our job is to provide an education for every student in Hutchinson public schools. We believe, working through our teams that we will be able to do that."
There is likely a combination of delivery methods for the internet connection necessary to reach all students, whether it is providing wireless internet at places like the public library, providing hotspots to individual families to use in their homes or providing password access to the internet connections at the school buildings so kids can sit in the parking lot and do their homework.
"We're talking about all of those," Young said. "We're really looking forward to kind of solidifying some different monies that we might get at the state level to help us. As we solidify those things, we can make plans, but those are three different topics that came up as possible solutions. While we don't know the exact solution, what we do know is, we're going to find a solution and be able to make sure our kids have access to the internet and are learning, if it's virtual."
More direction will likely come in the coming weeks as districts find out exactly what their enrollment will be in each of their buildings and how that will impact any potential hybrid models used.