Posted: Apr. 14, 2020 12:01 am
QUINCY — Quincy Public Schools began loaning out computers on Monday with the shift into the second phase of its remote learning plan.
By-appointment-only distribution took place from 1 to 7 p.m. at Quincy Junior High School and Quincy High School, where more laptops are available, and 4 to 7 p.m. at elementary schools.
“We had about 400 computers ready to go out,” Superintendent Roy Webb said.
Both QJHS and QHS expected to distribute 65 to 70 computers Monday, and early in the process, “things are going real well,” QJHS Principal Dan Sparrow said.
Families must complete a laptop request form through the Skyward access portal available at qps.org. Parents without online access should contact their student’s classroom teacher to make the request.
A confirmation email or phone call will provide the time, location and date along with the required code for computer pickup.
“Schools are scheduling pickup times for families to avoid the crowds,” QPS Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Kim Dinkheller said. If a family misses its scheduled time, “we’ll follow up the next day to see can we reschedule.”
Distribution will continue Tuesday and Wednesday — and longer based on the number of requests.
“Some people are still getting online and filling out that form, working through that process,’ Webb said. “Four hundred total is what we’ve had sign up right now, but I think we’ll have close to 1,000 families that need one.”
Computers will be available for families to use until remote learning is no longer necessary or the end of the school year.
Families without internet service in the home can access hot spots available in the parking lots at Flinn Stadium, the Quincy Family YMCA and Iles Elementary School.
Remote learning plan materials are available online at qps.org, and paper copies will be available Tuesday at the five locations providing sack breakfasts and lunches.
Webb said both packet distributions and the centralized meal distribution went well Monday with 2,072 meals provided.
QPS cancelled three committee meetings — District Improvement set for Thursday, Finance planned for Monday, April 20, and Building scheduled for Tuesday, April 21 — but the School Board will hold its scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 22.
“The QPS team has been amazing, worked real hard and got a good plan,” Webb said. “Our parents and our community have been very patient working with us.”
