The remainder of the school year is likely to look vastly different for local students and teachers. Dr. Kevin Miller, superintendent of the St. Clair County Regional Education Service Agency, says the Governor could order the rest of this year’s school courses to be taught online. “My idea would be that we… put together resources that are appropriate for every grade level and then set up a platform,” said Miller. He says many teachers are already using video conference services, such as Zoom, to still engage with their students.
Miller also says RESA is working to get technology in the hands of students and teachers in order to facilitate learning. One issue is that many families do not have reliable internet in the county. Miller says about 30 to 40-percent of St. Clair County students lack high speed internet connections. “We have a 200 mile network through the county that were are looking towards the future of using to be able to get broadband to folks that don’t have it.” Most of those are in western and southern St. Clair County. Miller adds that RESA is partnering with governments and the private sector businesses to expand their broadband network.
