Deer Creek, Edmond Parents Push For Traditional Learning Model

Parent groups from the Edmond and Deer Creek school districts are pushing for their kids to return to school five days a week.

Currently, both districts are using a blended model with in-person class two days a week.

News 9 spoke with Deer Creek parents like Jason Martin.

Martin has three kids in the district and said the virtual learning platform is not simple. But right now he's most concerned with the level of education his kids are getting. 

"Overall a lot of the challenges that we expected upfront with Canvas didn't come to fruition," said Martin. "Those aren't the concerns that we have now. Now its 100 percent on the quality of the education that they're receiving."

Martin said he would do whatever it takes to make sure his voice is heard, even if that's protesting.

"That was one of the different approaches they were planning, and I'm absolutely 100 percent committed to going out there and standing with them and making sure that our voices are heard," said Martin.

Martin is a part of a parent group that has been circulating a petition with now more than 700 signatures. The group has also written a letter to the school board with requests. Those include returning to a traditional model by Sept. 21, a committee that would monitor and publicly report district cases, and a virtual option given to principals if a school reaches a 20 percent infection rate. 

Parents said the district did have a Return to Learn committee meeting Sept. 8,

Administrators from Deer Creek released the following statement:

Deer Creek is following the Return To Learn plan voted on July 30th which follows the OSDH and OSDE state map and guidelines. Deer Creek is reconvening the Return To Learn Committee this evening, the earliest possible date to meet together after the state COVID alert system showed Oklahoma County to be yellow. A recommendation as to when and how Deer Creek Schools will transition students to and from remote and traditional learning, will be shared with the Deer Creek Board of Education and then with the Deer Creek staff and families.

As for Edmond parents, News 9 was told there's a protest planned for the morning of Sept. 9. 

Administrators from that district said a switch to a traditional learning model would not be abrupt, but it is possible. Edmond Public Schools sent the following statement: 

"Now that Oklahoma county has dropped into the yellow (low) risk category, the district could shift to in-person learning five days a week. However, this move would not be made abruptly. EPS would want to observe at least a two to three-week trend before making this change. Likewise, if the number of COVID-19 cases increases significantly and Oklahoma County moves into the red (or high) risk category, the district would move to a full remote learning model. Again, we would not make this move abruptly and would want to observe the data for a period of time before making any adjustments."