Lompoc Unified School District students and teachers thriving with distance learning

LOMPOC, Calif. - Students in Lompoc Unified School District are adapting well to distance learning with around 90 percent of students attending online classes.

That is a higher rate than other larger school districts in California.

This week the district is reaching out to the ten percent of students who are not attending. They hope to find out what is stopping attendance, whether it's wifi access, a language barrier, or technology trouble.

The district says equity and access are among their bigger concerns. They issued a chrome-book to every student, and have given parents resources to arrange for free wifi.

Teachers are using zoom for classes and getting creative to keep students engaged.

"For our elementary PE, he has turned that into a scavenger hunt," said Bree Valla, assistant superintendent of human resources at the school district. "He had students do a scavenger hunt around their house. He had them run and get a toothbrush. They came back with a toothbrush and then did 25 jumping jacks."

Teachers have also invited several guest speakers to zoom sessions,
Including broadway actors and notable entrepreneurs.

Teachers are integrating coping skills into lessons to help students though the pandemic.

The district is working off a schedule so that all elementary students are in class at the same time, and likewise for secondary students.

Support providers who would normally help new teachers, are available to all teachers. They are helping teachers both emotionally and with technology.

The district is waiting for direction from the governor to reopen schools. They have not yet made a decision about how to celebrate graduation for seniors.