HOPE — Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. officials announced their intent to begin the new school year on Thursday “as normal as possible.”
But the first day of classes on Thursday turned out to be a little different this year.
Prior to the pandemic, a “normal” first day of school consisted of a lot of sleepy students with long faces complaining about an all-too-short summer break.
But as the teens arrived, only one student could be heard complaining that “it’s just too early to be doing this” as he walked into the school.
Most Hauser students were like senior Steven Deckard, who said he was excited to “get back in the swing of things” after struggling with eLearning several times since March 2020.
“You can get distracted when you are by yourself because you aren’t in a classroom,” Deckard said. “You are just sitting at home, and sometimes, you don’t get a lot of work done.”
Hauser junior Abigail Hartwell said she suffered painful headaches from watching her home computer monitor, and went through a number of aggravations with faulty internet connection issues.
“Yeah, they have videos, but they don’t help quite as much,” Hartwell said. “When we are on campus, we get to ask questions. It’s a lot easier.”
What excites Hartwell about returning to school for this semester is the opportunity to study cosmetology through the C4 program in Columbus, she said.
“Definitely, in-person school is better,” senior Graham Kennedy said. “You have more resources. If you get confused, you can always ask a teacher. There is always a communication barrier with eLearning.
Besides seeing friends again, Kennedy said he is most excited about participating in both soccer and track this year.
Cautious optimism
After listening to the Bartholomew County COVID Task force virtual meeting Wednesday, Flat Rock-Hawcreek Superintendent Shawn Price said his district’s goal remains keeping students physically in their classrooms as much as possible during the upcoming school year.
“But if there was anything we learned from last year, it’s that things can change very quickly,” Price said. “We know that, and we want to stay on top of it.”
That will involve monitoring updates from local and state health departments, as well as Columbus Regional Health — and then adjusting guidelines as needed, Price said.
What has become normal for the Flat Rock-Hawcreek schools is steady student population growth over the past six years, Price said. While projections indicate the student population will be similar to last year, an official attendance number won’t be established until mid-September, he said.
A year ago, the district had 956 students on the first day of school. The official enrollment, however, rose to 981 several weeks later.
By attracting more students each year, the Hope-area public schools have received increasing funding that has allowed teacher raises and additional staff, Price said.
However, even more money can be expected in the future. Two federal stimulus packages passed since last December will provide the Flat Rock-Hawcreek schools with an additional $1,065,808 — or an estimated $1,086 per student.
Eligible expenses include obvious pandemic-related costs, including sanitation and personal protective equipment, but other costs such as school facility improvements, mental health services and technology are also allowed.
Staff perspectives
After it was announced in early July that Kris Fortune will succeed Dr. David Wintin as Hauser principal, Fortune has working nearly every day at the school to prepare for the start of the new school year, he said. A few of those preparations included updating the student handbook, as well as ensuring that all teacher and student schedules work out right, Fortune said.
While the new principal has heard a few parents express concerns about COVID-19, Fortune said most parents are comfortable with the reopening plan unveiled nearly a month ago.
On the north side of the Flat Rock-Hawcreek campus, Hope Elementary principal Jessica Poe said she was delighted with the 85% attendance during a Wednesday night open house.
She was also delighted while watching a lot of beaming young faces come through the school’s doors, Poe said.
“There’s definitely an energy in the building unlike any other I’ve experienced,” Poe said. “I think the students feel very safe and secure being here at school, so they are very excited about being here in person.”
