PANDEMIC PLAYBOOK: SYCAMORE RESPONDS TO COVID-19 BY LISA HENDRICKSON How do you follow a moving target —especially one as
had already started doing her homework on COVID-19 while
disruptive and dangerous as the coronavirus? That’s the
keeping a close eye on the growing number of cases. A Distance
dilemma Sycamore and other schools have faced since early
Learning Plan for a potential shift to virtual classes was already in
March, when the looming pandemic entered Indiana. Sycamore
the works. Borgmann met with the school’s leadership team, telling
has managed this enormous challenge by developing a robust
them she was nearly certain that the school would have to close
pandemic playbook that has enabled students to successfully
because of the rapidly rising caseload. Her prediction was accurate,
continue learning both at home and at school.
and she announced that the inauspicious date of Friday, March 13, would be the last day of in-person classes. She hoped the building
On March 10, 2020, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced that
could reopen in mid-April, following the end of the scheduled two-
12 Hoosiers had tested positive for the virus and urged schools to
week spring break. But soon after, the governor announced that all
“plan now for broader closures.” Head of School Diane Borgmann
schools would be required to close indefinitely. ABOVE: JONATHAN AMOAH, WITH 4TH GRADE TEACHER, JEAN WRIGHT
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