Although the writing is on the wall that public school students will not return to the classroom this year, local school districts can’t finalize plans for how instruction will continue until after the state board of education meets Wednesday.

The decision to close physical school buildings through the remainder of the school year has been proposed by State School Supt. Joy Hofmeister, but won’t be official until approved by the state school board.

Meanwhile, administrators are waiting for guidance from Hofmeister and the board on Wednesday as to what choices schools have to educate their students through the end of the year.

Districts have already begun working on determining how that might work in their schools and are taking into account and trying to find solutions to such obstacles as lack of access to computers or the internet in some homes.

The emergency order currently in place through April 6 prohibited even online instruction, but many teachers have found other ways to stay connected with their students and parents as much as possible.

Some teachers have shared recommended educational activities via social media and emails and the Okarche Police Department even escorted a parade of teachers driving their private vehicles through neighborhoods this week to wave at students they hadn’t seen for more than a week.

“Once we do our needs assessment and understand the true framework that is established by the SDE (state department of education) then we can start making concrete plans,” Kingfisher Supt. Jason Sternberger said. “We will know a lot more Wednesday after the meeting.”

Chisholm Trail Technology Center has already instituted online instruction for its adult students, who do not fall under the state department of education’s current ban on instruction, Supt. Max Thomas said.

“Our instructors have done a phenomenal job of developing an online format and we’ve also received permission for students to engage in online simulations to replace the practical hands-on hours required for some of our certification programs,” he said.

“So far, we’ve managed to continue our instruction somewhat seamlessly. We’re just de livering it differently.”

Although the state education department has been in communication with superintendents, no local district has any control over whether schools are closed and all say they are trying to make the best of a totally unprecedented situation.

“I told the principals today, whatever it takes to salvage anything left for the kids for this year, our administrators and teachers will step up and work with the parents to get these kids through this,” Sternberger said.

Districts will also learn Wednesday what their options are for recognizing graduating seniors in a way that won’t violate recommended social distancing.

“It’s a bad deal that’s affecting all of us,” Sternberger said. “No doubt our seniors and their parents are feeling it the worst.”