Online classes for Hennessey students will start Monday, April 6, due to COVID-19, Superintendent Dr. Mike Woods said after the school board waived a policy so staffers are now allowed to contact students electronically.

All high school students (grades 9-12) already have their school-owned computers, said Todd Cameron, computer technician/ network administrator, during the board’s special meeting Thursday.

Cameron said 6th-8th graders will be given their Chromebooks Monday and Tuesday because they have already signed waivers to get them, but students in grades 5th-pre-kindergarten need waivers signed.

A parent, or guardian, is required to be responsible for the laptops and must sign waivers.

If students/parents do not get information about their laptops they may contact Cameron (twcameron@hps.k12.ok.us), or school principals.

Teachers will be contacting students right away about the classes, said the superintendent.

“We’ve been asking our teachers to do some pretty remarkable work in coming up with these classes by grades and subjects,” Woods said.

Teachers need to be able to contact students electronically because they will be “working from home for the most part and may be using personal phones and emails.”

Some elementary school teachers have been reading books and posting them online to keep in touch with their students, he said.

“We will rely on parents to do some of the teaching (during these online classes) and I don’t know if some of the work will be pencil and paper, or all online.”

The change to allow school staff to contact students by electronic means will end “Nov. 15, 2020, or until the governor terminates the state emergency, or whichever date first occurs,” according to the board vote.

Support personnel pay OK’d

The board unanimously approved paying salaries and benefits for support personnel through June 30, at the request of the superintendent. That includes maintenance and cafeteria workers, teacher aides and secretaries, said Woods.

“It’s hourly employees,” he said.

Woods said Phyllis Walta, school attorney, recommended the action because “individual board members could possibly be liable and this action covers board members.”

Superintendent given emergency powers

The board granted temporary emergency powers to the superintendent due to the COVID-19 virus. The resolution allows Woods to make any changes needed to deal with the problem, including work schedules, purchases, health and safety of students and personnel, etc.

Social Distancing

On-site social distancing was practiced by three Hennessey school board members during the meeting while the two other members were video-conferenced via Zoom from their home offices.

It took a few minutes to get the video conference working so both online members could be seen and heard.

At the school site were President Patrick Griffin, Vice President Dr. James Matthew Matousek and Clerk Luke Lough. Online members were Joe Garrison and Cristopher Choate.

In addition to Cameron, other school staff at the meeting were Timberly Jech, recording secretary, and Jack Quirk, event center videographer.