Memo To: RHTA Membership

From: Lori Cebelius and Michelle Bartha, Co-Presidents

Re: Distance Learning 2020

March 20, 2020; noon

As we get closer to going to a distance learning model, we can expect to get new directives.  We will do our best to provide some clarity. Please keep in mind that once Monday comes around, more questions will occur to all of us.  The best thing is to always follow what your administrator tells you to do. It’s okay to let them know what your concerns are, and then share them with us as well.  Chances are, if you are concerned about the impact of any directive, someone else is as well.  

We learned today that the student’s chrome book cameras will be activated.  We also learned that their school email addresses will be activated. This is something new for the elementary faculty. Hopefully the district will lay out some parameters for students to abide by.  IF they do not, just as you would set up classroom expectations, you can set up distance learning expectations. In the long run, your own set of expectations will most likely be the ones that are most likely to stick in the minds of our parents/students. 

Some of our support people have been told to use google conferencing to provide services. We are still gathering answers on this. If your administrator gives you a directive, for right now you have to follow it. Luckily we do not begin any of this distance learning/servicing until Monday.That means changes will most likely come.  We were initially told that we would not be sitting at our kitchen tables delivering instruction via camera. However, google video conferencing is something different. We do recognize that. They can ask you to do a video conference via the platform we are using. What we know at this point is – you can block your camera. If you prefer, you can use *67 to make a call from your personal or district phone – incognito. Please stay tuned on this question. We still highly discourage the use of texting or calling from your personal cell phones.

More questions & answers….

Q.  I am using my own WiFi at home with a district device. How do I know that my personal information cannot be ‘hacked’?

WHILE USING YOUR SCHOOL-ISSUED DEVICE FOR SCHOOL-RELATED BUSINESS AND TEACHING ONLY, YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT AND CANNOT BE EXPOSED OR COMPROMISED. 

Q. Will I have to pay additional charges when using my home WiFi?

THIS DEPENDS UPON THE AGREEMENT YOU HAVE WITH YOUR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER (ISP) AT HOME; HOWEVER, MOST ALL SERVICE PROVIDERS OFFER UNLIMITED INTERNET ACCESS. I RECOMMEND CONTACTING YOUR ISP TO CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE AN UNLIMITED SERVICE.

Please continue to check our website for more updates. We are striving to keep up with the many questions that come our way. Take care and stay healthy.