CAMBRIDGE — Middle and high school students in Dorchester County Public Schools that require home and hospital services or are unable to come into school in person will be offered a new service this school year.
At a Dorchester County Board of Education meeting Thursday, the board approved a contract with Edmentum, a learning technology company, for virtual synchronous instruction for students who aren’t able to attend school in person for an extended period of time, whether that is for health reasons or other reasons.
Jodi Colman, assistant superintendent of academics and student services, said that middle and high schoolers in need of this service would receive instruction from real teachers throughout the week and would be able to sign up for support like office hours, if needed.
“They would get a much more substantial academic program while they’re not able to be in school,” Colman said.
This past school year, students who were unable to attend school in person were receiving services from tutors hired by the district. Colman said a lot of those tutors were Dorchester County teachers, and so they were only able to provide services after school at night.
Elementary school students requiring services outside of school will still receive tutoring as the Edmentum agreement is only for secondary students in the district.
Under the agreement, Dorchester County schools will be able to offer secondary students enrollment in the Edmentum courses on an as-need basis.
Colman said the service will cost $200 per student per course. She said she doesn’t know exactly how much it will cost the district in total as that is dependent on how many students will need to enroll, but she estimates the total cost will be somewhere around $100,000.
“I don’t know if we’ll use that much or we’ll need more,” she said. “Based on our students, last year, we would have needed more than $100,000, but we’re going to see how that goes right now.”
The district will get billed monthly for up to $100,000 for the service.
At the meeting, board Vice President Talibah Chikwendu asked about funding the service and how the district will pay for it if costs go over budget. Colman said some money can be moved from the budgeted line item for home hospital services tutor stipends and the district can also use Title IV or Title V funds.
NEW SCHOOL YEARAt the end of the meeting on Thursday, board members wished everyone in the district a great start to the school year.
“Parents, you’re about to turn over your kids to us, and we’re going to give them our very best,” board President Sheri Hubbard said.
For Dorchester County Public Schools first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth graders, the first day of school will be Sept. 3. For seventh, eighth, 10th, 11th and 12th graders, the first day of school will be Sept. 4. For pre-K and kindergarteners, the first day of school will be Sept. 5.
Superintendent Jymil Thompson said he thinks the district is off to a great start to the school year. He said the professional development that teachers have been receiving has been “excellent.”
“I just think the whole team has energy,” he said. “Because I think that everyone is focusing on what we’re in the business of doing. And that is instruction.”
Since becoming interim superintendent in March and then superintendent in June, Thompson has talked about the need to increase the district’s ranking from 23rd to 15th in the state.
“I just want to make sure we keep the main thing the main thing,” he said at the end of the meeting, “and that’s moving from 23rd to 15th.”
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