Education

Durham schools offering learning center options, but at a cost

Parents in need of supervision for their children during remote learning now have another option from Durham Public Schools.

Posted Updated

By
Lora Lavigne
, WRAL Durham reporter
DURHAM, N.C. — Parents in need of supervision for their children during remote learning now have another option from Durham Public Schools.

DPS will operate six learning centers, but it comes at a cost.

W.G. Pearson Elementary School is one of many locations that will become learning centers around this time next week. However, some parents aren’t too sure if this option is any safer than having school in-person.

Class is back in session. For Sarah Anderson’s elementary kids, it’s all being done in their living room.

“With everyone doing something different. It’s almost no downtime for us during the entire day,” said Anderson.

She added with two full-time working parents, trying to also manage three separate learning schedules, it’s a handful. Yet, sending them to a learning center is out of the question for them.

“With the three kids, it would just be cost prohibited to participate and then I’m just not convinced it’s any safer,” Anderson added.

“We’re going to limit the number of students that are with each other, we’re going to spread people out,” said Chip Sudderth, a DPS Spokesman.

Among the six locations, the students selected upon applications will be assigned to pods with daily wellness screenings.

“We’re not going to leave it to chance. We’re going to require social distancing and masking, cleaning and sanitation,” added Sudderth.

The cost is another issue parents are taking into consideration. It could cost as much as $140 a week per student. Families in the free and reduced lunch program would pay $70 per week.

“It’s just way too big of an expense to just add in the family finance all of a sudden,” added Anderson.

An application form for elementary students is available on the DPS website.

Priorities for free seats at the learning centers will be given to students in transition, such as those receiving McKinney-Vento services and in foster care. There will be a sliding scale for weekly fees for other students.

The learning centers will be operated by the DPS Department of Community Education. Operating the six learning centers for 450 elementary and 450 middle/high students for nine weeks will cost $486,888 in salaries and benefits, supplies, and materials. There will be additional costs for transportation, custodial support, and other services.

The DPS Learning Centers are part of a broader community initiative to support working families and families with increased economic hardships while schools are closed to in-person instruction. DPS is partnering with the DPS Foundation, Student U, YMCA, and other community organizations to establish Durham HOPE Centers throughout the community that would provide the same services for additional families. Combined, the initiative hopes to reach at least 3,000 students.

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