Taking in-person learning and moving it online is an unprecedented move.

PORTLAND, Ore. — School districts across Oregon have been told to have a plan already up and running by now when it comes to distance learning.



We checked in with two of the largest districts in the area to see how things are going.

Taking in-person learning and moving it online is an unprecedented move. It’s entirely new, so of course there have been some hiccups. But some of the bigger districts in the area say things are running smooth. At Portland Public Schools, Jonathan Garcia said this week has been smoother than last week.

“I just assume that we will get better and we will continue to shift,” said Garcia. He’s the Chief Engagement Officer for Portland Public Schools and is in charge of fundraising.

He said one of the focus areas this week is getting students online and connected through its partnership with Comcast. That partnership will give 2,000 students in need free internet access for six months. Garcia said codes for free internet will start getting distributed Wednesday afternoon.

Families had the option of applying online on The Fund for Portland Public Schools website or calling in. The website application opened at 9 a.m. Wednesday, and only a couple hours later there were already about 250 families that had applied to get free internet.

“Right now we anticipate about 3,000 of our 50,000 students are requiring wireless access,” said Garcia. “So we're working around the clock to make sure that families that need internet access can get it.”

Already the district has handed out more than 11,000 Chromebook laptops, and by Friday that number will have gone up. As for hotspots, the district has about 3,000 total in its arsenal. Staff are working to get them out. Garcia said he believes that number of hotspots should cover the need.

Karen Werstein, a spokesperson for the district, also said like other districts, PPS is facing some hurdles. One of the main ones is making sure district officials get in contact with every family to determine needs. That includes the families of special needs students, English language learners, and homeless students.

Meantime, the Salem-Keizer school district said with an emergency operation that took two weeks to plan, while there have been some hiccups, things are going well.

Lillian Govus, spokesperson for the Salem-Keizer School District said Chromebooks are still being distributed and the district is working to set families up with internet access through its partnership with Comcast. Hot spots are also being handed out to those who need it.

Both Portland Public Schools and Salem-Keizer are also focused on helping seniors graduate and get ready for college.

In fact, Salem-Keizer has partnered with Chemeketa Community College to offer a free accelerated five-week course that allows graduated seniors an opportunity to start earning transferrable college credit. It is being offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Vancouver Schools said under the circumstances, things are going well.

KGW has reached out to other school districts and is waiting to hear back.