What to know about start of new year and distance learning in Palm Springs Unified School District

At the PUSD office in Palm Springs, administrators are expressing confidence in saying they're ready and able to deliver a much more effective "distance learning" experience than what was offered last March when the coronavirus pandemic began.

"We are further along and so much more prepared for now in providing instruction in the distance learning world," said Dr. Deanna Keuilian.

Keuilian oversees the district's college and career readiness program.

She says she and her district colleagues are taking a much more "strategic and intentional" approach to making sure they're ready to provide instruction virtually.

They're working to make sure teachers and students have all the tools and resources they need to make it work, including one of the most important components: technology.

"In my heart of hearts I just want it all to work smoothly and I want our students to have a great experience that first time and I want our teachers to be happy that everything works," said Will Carr, the district's Director of Technology.

Carr says the district has provided sufficient funding to make sure everyone has the tech they need.

He says he and his staff are ready to support distance learning for the entire year.

They'll be relying on Chromebooks for students once again, and they've loaded up on 4,200 T-Mobile "hotspots" to provide cellular internet access for children who don't have access at home.

Carr says Chromebooks have already been sent out to most of the district's 22,500 students, and 700 brand new laptops have been sent to teachers.

Carr says parent involvement is "critical" to making distance learning work, and encourages parents and caregivers to help children establish routines, to make sure they have quiet uncluttered areas to work, and to make sure they're logging on and staying focused when teaching begins.

Parents can also use the app "Parent View" to track student participation and progress.

Another important topic for students is nutrition.

The program is run by Director of Nutrition Stephanie Bruce.

"We are a high needy district. We are about 90 percent free and reduced and a lot of our students rely on the meals we serve," said Bruce.

Bruce says the district's free weekly food distribution, offered to all students in the district, will continue through the year at 19 campuses around the district.

She expects to continue providing meals to about 15 thousand students a week.

District provided food distribution cards are required at pick up.

Parents can also use other proof of enrollment.

The district is also running "tech depots" at different campus locations, where parents can take Chromebooks for repair, if and when something breaks.

Details on all the district's programs and support services are available at the district website.

LINK: https://www.psusd.us