Emily Cureton
Originally published on April 28, 2021 3:19 pm
Hannah Higgins has rolled with the punches during her second pandemic-wracked school year. Now, the 16-year-old high school junior says she’s exhausted, and scared.
She first adapted to learning online, then the hybrid model, where she met up with teachers and classmates just two days a week. This month, things changed again, as Bend-La Pine Schools became the first large district in Oregon to resume in-person instruction for all grade levels, five days a week. Higgins describes each day back inside Bend’s Summit High School as a kind of endurance test.
Bend-La Pine Schools Go All In On Reopening As Virus Infects More Youth ijpr.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ijpr.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Board Selects Dr. Steve Cook as Next Superintendent for Bend-La Pine Schools Unanimous decision during Board Meeting; Cook set to start July 1
Tonight, Bend-La Pine Schools’ Board of Directors voted unanimously to name Dr. Steve Cook as the district’s next superintendent. Cook, who currently serves as Superintendent at Coeur d’Alene School District in Idaho, will begin on July 1, 2021. Cook will succeed current interim Superintendent Lora Nordquist.
“Among an exceptional pool of candidates from across our nation, Dr. Cook rose to the top. During this search process, which began more than a year ago, our community came together to identify four key competencies that they wanted to see in a next superintendent. Those values are what guided our rigorous selection process and we are thrilled to say Dr. Cook meets and exceeds all of the attributes we were looking for. He is the visionary leader, advocate for equity, community partner and capacity builder our community wants and
Many middle and high school students in Bend-La Pine Schools are struggling academically due to distance learning, and their grades this fall are suffering, too. About a third of them are failing at least one class.
To help these students, the school district is mandating that the lowest grade percentage middle and high school students can receive on an assignment or test is now 50%, instead of 0%. Although thatâs still an F, district leaders say this creates a more equitable grading system, making it easier for students to improve their grade beyond an F.
âThe reality is, we have a lot of kids who are struggling,â said Katie Legace, executive director of high schools at Bend-La Pine. âWe decided to implement something that would create an immediate fairness for students.â