Following the State of New Mexico Public Education Department’s announcement Friday that schools will remain closed for the remainder of the year, Las Cruces Public School administrators are working to finalize plans to have teachers and students finish the spring semester remotely starting April 6.
“We are navigating our LCPS family through an unprecedented time of innovation,” said Dr. Karen Trujillo, Superintendent for Las Cruces Public Schools. “But that opportunity doesn’t come without the disappointment of knowing teachers and students will not return to their physical classrooms this school year.”
Keeping students and staff safe during a statewide effort to “flatten the curve” of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the focus of district officials – on top of maintaining breakfast and lunch distribution to vulnerable Las Cruces communities where food insecurity is substantial. The numbers of meals distributed, according to Trujillo, have only gone up since the service began on March 16. To date, nearly 100,000 meals have been distributed.
The focus now is to address the needs of seniors who are scheduled to graduate with the Class of 2020, how to effectively shift classroom instruction to remote learning, and to adjust job descriptions now that schools will be closed until further notice.
“Our goal is to engage and reassure our employees that certain jobs – like deliveries to school campuses or daily custodial duties – might look different after the state’s decision to shutter our classrooms this semester,” said Trujillo. To accommodate that, district leaders are working with union representatives on updating agreements. Several other recommendations and credit adjustments will likely require approval by the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education. The board’s next regular meeting is April 7.
Instruction staff has been working with principals and teachers to determine what remote platforms are already in use, like Google Classroom, SeeSaw or ClassDojo, and how they can supplement those resources with hands-on materials, especially for students who do not have devices or internet access. The district is also working diligently to determine how best to support students who need extra resources and accommodations to access learning. Special education teachers, bilingual teachers and educational assistants will be instrumental in providing support for these students.
“We are committed to providing whatever we can to our students and teachers right now,” said Trujillo. “Their needs are paramount to finishing the school year as best we can under conditions that are largely out of our control.”
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Additional resources available to students and families:
ï For updated information related to COVID-19, visit www.cv.nmhealth.org.
ï To contact the New Mexico Department of Health for any health-related questions or concerns, call the Coronavirus Hotline, 1-855-600-3453.
ï During the crisis, families without internet service might be eligible for free or reduced internet service for the next 60 days. For more information on how to apply, call (855) 954-6546, (888) 833-9522 or (888) 234-4272.
ï The New Mexico Crisis Line is available for anyone experiencing an emotional or mental health crisis. For resources, visit www.nmcrisisline.com or call 1-855-662-7474. In an emergency, please call 911.
ï Additional resources that families might find helpful can be found at www.lcps.net.