Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. has created a hotline for parents with technical questions about its BRIDGE learning pathway.
The BRIDGE Technical Help Hotline is scheduled to open Monday. Parents can call 812-418-0252 or email [email protected].
Parents who call will be asked to leave a message with their name, their student’s name, contact information and “a brief description of their issue,” said Director of Technology Nick Williams. The parent will then be called back by the hotline “to help clarify the issue and direct concerns to the team that can solve it.” He added that any device exchanges will still take place at the school building.
“This is a technical hotline, so any questions regarding the BCSC device not functioning properly, log-in issues, or BCSC hotspot questions, the teacher should still be the first contact for all students,” Williams said.
Questions about grades, assignments, meetings and resources should also be directed to teachers first.
BRIDGE is one of two virtual learning options for BCSC students and is intended for students who plan on returning to in-person learning at some point in the school year.
According to BCSC’s website, “BRIDGE is a pathway in which students are taught by BCSC teachers who interact virtually, guide engagement and assignments, and promote personal growth through a high quality remote learning experience. This is an online five-day-a-week option. BCSC adopted resources and materials are utilized, and students are provided personal devices to enhance their learning.”
While the hotline is new, Williams said that the BRIDGE program has had a support system from the beginning.
“School support technology needs are provided through BRIDGE teachers, school-based technicians, and building office staff,” Williams explained. “What we have learned is that there was a benefit for having a centralized call center last spring and that it may help our current BRIDGE students. We now feel that we have the capacity to pull technicians from their buildings to help support a central call center.”
While the hotline focuses on technical issues families may be having with BRIDGE, BCSC families say they have had other problems with the program that do not pertain to technology.
During the public comment portion of last Monday’s school board meeting, multiple speakers expressed concerns about the quality of BRIDGE education, the level of support students were receiving and the stress put on some teachers who are tasked with teaching both in-person and virtual students.
Bekki Wills, a junior at Columbus North High School enrolled in BRIDGE, said that the pathway has been challenging for students and teachers.
“I’m surprised and disappointed that this administration has not taken the time during summer to further improve our online learning and additional resources,” she said. “Rather, they have placed the burdens squarely on the shoulders of teachers, guidance counselors and support staff. My teachers do not have time for questions by both in-person and online students, and I often do not get answers for multiple hours.”
Wills said that all students should be sent online, as this would enable teachers to have the same guidelines for all students, rather than being “completely overwhelmed trying to perform the perfect balancing act.”
“The quality of education students are receiving is in a sharp decline, which could have been prevented if the administration had used their time wisely over the summer,” Wills said. “Now we are here, and the system is not working. It’s not the system you all sat here and promised us a few weeks ago. It is not a system beneficial to students or teachers or even parents.”
BCSC parent Amanda Reid, whose children are enrolled in BRIDGE, expressed similar concerns and experiences. She said that there needs to be more oversight from administrators to ensure that students’ education isn’t being neglected.
“My own daughter, sitting in the back there, was told in her only interaction with her elementary school teacher that she was not the priority,” Reid said. “‘There are children in the classroom, you will need to be self-serviced. They are my first priority.’ My 6-year-old, who is on an IEP, because he has reading comprehension issues, has yet to actually interact with his teacher.”
Reid said that when she voiced her concerns, she was told she could change schools.
Reid also spoke about the burden on teachers and said they need more help and resources if they’re going to make the system work.
Superintendent Jim Roberts acknowledged the difficult situation of teachers who have to serve both in-person and virtual students. He said that BCSC will look into ways of recognizing the after-school time spent by these teachers, such as stipends. Board members also discussed a need for more staff, including more teaching assistants.
Laura Hack, director of elementary instruction, said that schools are working with teachers are giving opportunities for feedback. She added schools are also offering one hour of professional development time every Thursday for BRIDGE teachers.
“We are truly trying to work through some of these options with teachers and helping them design their lessons so that they are engaging, so that they are building relationships these very first two weeks,” she said. “… That was our mission to our teachers, was building that relationship, because we know that that is critical right now. And then, again, working towards mastery, working towards proficiency. All of our students are still at Indiana standards.”
Roberts also indicated that while an overall move to eLearning might be easier for BCSC, the school corporation is committed to giving parents options.
“Keeping the doors open for in-person instruction is really hard,” he said. “And without question, without any apology, I will state that it is my desire to have our students here. It does need to be in a safe and secure situation and environment.”
Roberts said that out of the more than 11,000 students enrolled in BCSC, 2,657 or 23.3% are enrolled in BRIDGE. There are 545 students or 4.8% are enrolled in Columbus Virtual Pathway (CVP) and 8,242 students or 72.0% enrolled in in-person learning.
“To put those numbers into perspective, 2,657 is bigger than any school building we have, by a lot,” he said. “And if we look at that from a K-12 perspective, since it is a K-12 program, 2,657 would be bigger than most school corporations in the state of Indiana. So it is quite an interesting challenge, in terms of the allocation of resources to that and/or the Columbus Virtual Pathway.”
He added that BRIDGE is a new program, whereas CVP has been in place since 2018.
According to the school’s website, “The Columbus Virtual Pathway is facilitated by a BCSC teacher using the Edgenuity platform in an adaptive, self-paced, and customized learning environment. Students enrolled in CVP engage in video instruction and online learning activities that support mastery of Indiana state standards. CVP is an appropriate option for self-motivated students who will not be returning to a BCSC school this year.”
Williams said that if CVP parents and students have questions, they should work directly with their CVP teacher and the CVP Coordinator, Angie Wieneke. Wieneke can be called or texted at (812) 603-9283. She can also be emailed at [email protected].
“Whether a BCSC student is in our buildings, attending through Bridge, or CVP, our district is dedicated to supporting all of our students,” Williams said. “We learned a lot from eLearning last spring, but supporting our current model brings new challenges. We are constantly striving to improve during this challenging school year.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”How to reach the hotline” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The BRIDGE Technical Help Hotline opens Monday and can be reached at 812-418-0252. Parents can call 812-418-0252 or email [email protected].
Director of technology Nick Williams said that parents who call will be asked to leave a message with their name, their student’s name, contact information and “a brief description of their issue.” The parent will then be called back by the hotline “to help clarify the issue and direct concerns to the team that can solve it.” He added that any device exchanges will still take place at the school building.
Williams said, “This is a technical hotline, so any questions regarding the BCSC device not functioning properly, login issues, or BCSC hotspot questions. The teacher should still be the first contact for all students.”
He also said that the questions about grades, assignments, meetings and resources should be directed at teachers.
Williams said that if CVP parents and students have questions, they should work directly with their CVP teacher and the CVP Coordinator, Angie Wieneke. Wieneke can be called or texted at (812) 603-9283. She can also be emailed at [email protected].
More information about BCSC online learning options can be found at www.bcscschools.org/online.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
