SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Remote learning is here to stay for students at Sioux Falls public schools, at least through the academic year.
Sioux Falls School District Superintendent Brian Maher told parents in an email Tuesday the district will keep schools closed despite Gov. Kristi Noem’s newly-announced “Back to Normal” guidelines.
The non-binding guidelines say schools should “consider a limited return to in-person instruction.” This would allow teachers to “check in” with students before the school year ends.
Noem recommended on April 6 that all schools close through the remainder of the academic year. Her new guidelines recommend districts “continue remote learning” while also considering a limited reopening.
Ultimately the plan leaves it up to local school districts to decide what to do. Maher said staying the course is the best choice for Sioux Falls.
“Our students, our teachers and our community have worked through many pitfalls to get to a place where students are experiencing success with a remote learning methodology,” he wrote in the email. “I do not believe switching educational delivery systems again is in the best interest of students or staff.”
Maher said “some individual exceptions may make sense” for certain students, but he doesn’t expect any major changes to how the district will operate.
“We have a plan for the remainder of the year — we will continue to execute that,” he said.
(KELO.com News’ Liz Ryan contributed to this report.)
