EDUCATION The New Tri-State Defender, September 17 - 23, 2020, Page 6
Noting kinks and student no-shows, SCS rates virtual opening as ‘encouraging’ by Dr. Sybil C. Mitchell
Special to The New Tri-State Defender
With some 3,000 Shelby County Schools students unaccounted for during the first two weeks of the school year, school officials are making an all-out push to find them. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, SCS started the school year holding virtual classes on Aug. 31. More than 3,000 students from last year’s 95,000 are still unaccounted for, said Jerica Phillips, SCS media relations officer. For the most part, though, Phillips said the virtual launch, based on the data, was encouraging. “Our numbers are based on rollover attendance from last year,” Phillips explained during a virtual news conference Tuesday (Sept. 15). “Data for the first week of school shows 92 percent have logged on to the dis-
trict’s instructional platform, Microsoft Teams.” That translates to more than 3,000 students being marked as “no shows.” SCS staff is tracking students down, Phillips said. Some may have moved or transferred to another district. She said the district’s delayed opening of schools to Aug. 31 was a major factor in the overall success of the first two weeks. Some 90,000 students, 97 percent, have picked up their district-issued device. The remaining three percent, or more than 5,000, have not. Of the students, who have not picked up their device, more than 2,000 are still logging onto the learning platforms using other devices. There are troubling issues, highlighted among students and teachers, associated with virtual learning. Problems include how to better instruct students with special needs
that regard personal interaction with a teacher, setting up work stations conducive to learning when there are multiple school-age children in a home and school-age children observed playing outside during instruction periods. Phillips said the district is working to determine whether students will be returning or if they have been hindered in picking up their devices. The following allowances have been put in place: * If Internet access is determined to be an issue, parents are being approved to receive a hot spot. * The District will hand off the distribution of devices to the individual schools over the next few weeks. * If families do not have transportation to a distribution site, the Division of Alternative Education and Family and Community Engagement (FACE) are providing MATA bus cards and gas cards.
Other support initiatives also have begun. School Board member Joyce Dorse-Coleman is leading a fund-raising effort to pay utilities for families with school-age children who face electricity cut-offs. Also, Shelby County Commissioners Monday (Sept. 14) approved a $750,000 outlay for headsets. Headsets are essential, especially when multiple children are in virtual learning simultaneously, said SCS principals. Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. urged fellow commissioners to “pay attention to the numbers” being given to Shelby County Schools.” “I always want our students to have what they need,” said Ford. “But I encourage county commissioners to pay attention to the numbers being given to us. They are not the same numbers being given to the (Memphis) City Council. …We have approved $48
million, and the city council just approved $5 million. That’s $53 million altogether.” Ford said that everyone must take an interest in SCS money being spent “the right way.” “That $5 million is CARES Act money from the federal government,” said Ford. “If it is not spent responsibly and there are some mistakes, guess who’s going to be asked to pay that money back – the taxpayers. “I spent 14 years in the school system. I loved being with our children in the classroom. They should have all they need. I just want our fiscal responsibility to be right.” Parents, who have not been contacted by the district or have questions are asked to call 901-416-5300. Additional information about picking up devices also is available at that number during regular business hours.
SPORTS
CONTINUED FROM FRONT test. “I have been playing football since the age of 7,” said Jordan. “We found out yesterday that all sports were cancelled. It was important to be here to just let the superintendent know that football is more than just a game for us. It is a part of our lives. This decision was shocking and devastating.” Jordan’s father, Derrick Jordan, said it was important to come out and support his son as well as the other teams. “Football is a great outlet for these kids,” said the elder Jordan. “These kids need football and other sports in their lives. The superintendent gave parents no platform to speak or have any kind of input in this decision.” Almo, and Marcus Taylor II took to Twitter Tuesday afternoon about protesting in front of the SCS administration building, and the event sprang out of posts from players voicing their frustration and disappointment. “Collierville and Houston High get to play,” said the elder Jordan. “Our kids are at home watching them play, and it’s just not fair to them. Why didn’t Dr. Ray get with the districts out in the suburbs? They are doing something that works because they are playing sports this school year.” Farren Alexander, mother of Aaren Alexander, said she was afraid for how “the players’ hearts and minds feel. I told my son to pray,” Alexander said. “There will be no sports, no cheerleading, or anything connected to school sports. It’s just very sad.” Marcus Taylor, father of Taylor II, a co-organizer of the protest, told the protesting players that it would be a peaceful protest. “We will not let anyone control this narrative,” said the elder Taylor. “They ain’t going to cuss and clown, because we are going to do everything decent and in order. Repeat after me – ‘decent and in order.’” The crowd of players gathered around Taylor responded in unison, “Decent and in order.” Taylor is a cultural coach and mentor for boys and girls all across the district. “We have already lost one player, and we can’t afford to lose another,” Taylor said.
There will be fall football for SCS student-athletes and the disappointment was self evident among this group of protesters. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises)
Billy Walker with the SCS student affairs office said safety was paramount in the decision to cancel fall sports. “Demetrius Robinson at Whitehaven was only 90 minutes from a scholarship offer – 90 minutes from a scholarship offer. We just can’t afford to lose any more of our babies.” Robinson, a Whitehaven football player, was fatally shot earli-
Marcus Taylor II took to Twitter Tuesday afternoon about protesting in front of the SCS administration building and found there was ample support.
er this month. Almo said football for many seniors was their last chance at getting to college. “We want to know how much of a thought process went into making a decision about black kids playing football,” Almo
said. “Ridgeway is right down the street from MUS. MUS can play, but Ridgeway cannot. Come on, now.” Jordan is raising his son, but many of the kids who play sports do not have a father figure in the home, he said.
“These coaches offer a sense of stability. They offer a sense of strength for these kids,” said the elder Jordan. “Playing sports builds their character, and for many, this is their one shot to make it out of poverty. Now that’s been taken away.” SCS School Board Chair Miska Clay Bibbs addressed the situation in Tuesday’s (Sept. 15) news release: “With so much at stake, major decisions like this are not easy but are made in the best interests of our students, families, and staff. “Their safety is our top priority and I commend Superintendent Ray for weathering the storm in order to protect our student-athletes, coaches and the community.” Almo said school leaders failed them by not including them in the decision-making. “Not one time did he ask a football player or a cheerleader or any student who plays sports what they thought,” Almo said. “These privileged schools get to play sports, and we do not. Nothing is fair about that.”
