All participating districts are highly suggested to work within the guidelines of the WNDLC bell schedule when sending or receiving distance learning courses among member schools. There will be no common calendar among member schools. Students at receive sites will follow the calendar of the providing institution.

Period 0 7:10 - 8:00

Period 1 8:10 - 9:00

Period 2 9:05 - 9:55

Period 3 10:00 - 10:50

Period 4 10:55 - 11:45

Period 5 11:50 - 12:40

Period 6 12:45 - 1:35

Period 7 1:40 - 2:30

Period 8 2:35 - 3:25

The WNDLC system will work with 50 minute periods and five minute pass time. Each school can adjust the pass times to meet their own individual needs as long as the start of each period adheres to the WNDLC bell schedule.

Notification of Schedule Changes

The WNDLC teacher and the remote site principal should handle notification of daily schedule changes. WNDLC teachers should be kept informed of any special school activities that apply specifically to them. The participating schools will send monthly calendars to the WNDLC coordinator for distribution.

Notification of schedule changes must be made to the principals of the host and receiving WNDLC classes and WNDLC coordinator. Any school not having class should provide a modified schedule or notify all WNDLC schools by fax. Weather changes (late starts, cancellations, etc.) should be relayed to all schools and to the WNDLC coordinator.

Scheduling Procedures

Schedules for community education will be made in advance through the site principals and the WNDLC coordinator. Arrangements to use the WNDLC system after school must be made by the instructor in conjunction with the site principal and the WNDLC coordinator.

Registration Process/Procedure

The principals and counselors in each of the participating districts will handle registration.

Site principals will provide the WNDLC Coordinator a list of courses that they could offer on the DL system the next school year, as well as registration slots available, and the class period each course will be taught by April 21. A list of courses will be compiled and distributed by the coordinator to the member schools to allow to for registration of WNDLC courses. Final registration totals for WNDLC courses will be compiled and verified for each district no later than May 21 of any given year. Participating school districts will be held financially accountable for each student registered at that time.

Student registrations may be added if space permits. Individual students registering for college credit will be responsible for payment of tuition and fees through arrangements identified by the college representative.

Please use the form titled WNDLC Student/Parent Agreement (appendix A) to submit all registration information.

Teachers shall provide a course description for the registration of students in WNDLC courses.

Minimum/Maximum WNDLC Classes

Juniors and seniors will have registration priority for all WNDLC classes.

Maximum WNDLC class:

A recommended number of 25 students for any WNDLC class (this can be adjusted by the originating site administration), including any combination of student numbers at the host site and up to and including three remote sites to be reviewed and recommended by originator, teacher, principal, and WNDLC coordinator.

Maximum Distance Learning Classroom Capacity Receiving Sites:

A maximum of 15 students per distance learning classroom site.

Maximum Distance Learning Classroom Capacity Sending Sites:

A maximum of 15 students is recommended, but may be larger at the discretion of the sending site’s principal.

Minimum Distance Learning Classroom Capacity:

A minimum of one (1) student per distance learning classroom site.

Drop/Add Policy

The student Drop/Add Policy will be in effect for each district as long as it is no later than four (4) school days following opening day of the WNDLC semester. The remote district will be responsible for expenses incurred from their own districts if students drop a class.

Districts may NOT add students to a WNDLC class unless: (1) a student who has dropped is being replaced, or (2) a new student has received an enrollment waiver from the WNDLC host school.

Staff Notification/Assignment

The WNDLC host administrator will assign any teaching assignment that includes WNDLC delivery. All staff will be notified as to their WNDLC assignment by April 21 of the given year. All new WNDLC staff will be required to participate in WNDLC training/inservice prior to going on the system. WNDLC training inservices will be made available prior to teaching on the system.

WNDLC Staff Evaluation

Teachers hired to teach over the two-way interactive network will be evaluated by the administration of the sending site. The sending site will determine the evaluation instrument used. The sending site administration is free to utilize input toward evaluation from network administration from receiving sites.

Time and Compensation

Any release time or additional compensation for instructors teaching over the interactive network for training and/or class preparation will be determined by the originating site school district.

Substitute Teachers

All procedures for substitute WNDLC teaching staff will be administered in the traditional manner. The host site shall provide a substitute when necessary. If a substitute teacher is not hired, the principal at each participating site shall be notified by the phone and/or fax and given the student assignments for the day.

Contact Person

Each school will select a contact person(s) to distribute and return WNDLC materials to the WNDLC instructor. The WNDLC coordinator should be notified as to who the contact person is. The WNDLC Instructional Mailing Form (appendix B) should be filled out completely and accompany all WNDLC materials sent through the mail service.

Discipline

WNDLC teachers are expected to maintain usual classroom order as in a regular class situation, but shall not be held liable for behavior of students at remote sites. In the event of behavioral problems, the WNDLC teacher shall immediately notify remote site principals or office personnel. Remote site principals will deal with remote site behavioral problems. Students are expected to sign and abide by the guidelines of the WNDLC Student Discipline Policy (appendix C). Copies will be provided to the student, parents, and the WNDLC coordinator. The WNDLC coordinator will maintain a record of all disciplinary action taken involving WNDLC students.

Supervision

Principals of the receiving or remote sites are ultimately responsible for all supervision in the interactive classroom.

WNDLC Site Changes

It is recommended that WNDLC teachers teach from each remote site at least once during each class they teach on the system. Notification of the change of teaching sites should be made to the site principals and WNDLC coordinator at least 48 hours prior to the change.

The cost of substitute pay and transportation for the teacher’s visit is the responsibility of the home site school.

Field Trips & Other Activities

1. If a field trip is planned during the school year for a distance learning class, the activity should be included in the course syllabus that is distributed at the start of the school year. It is mandatory that the principal at the host/receiving sites receive a copy of the course syllabus at the start of the school year and that the class instructor make personal contact with the principals to inform them of their class expectations including any special activities like field trips. Principals will need to give written approval for the field trip activity.

2. It is required that the class instructor follow-up at least two weeks prior to the planned field trip with the host/receive site principals to remind them of the upcoming activity to make sure that transportation issues have been worked through.

3. Any field trips in distance learning classes will be not be required activities for the receive site students. Failure of the receive site students to attend a field trip activity will not result in a grade penalty. Those students will be given the opportunity to do other projects instead of the field trip to make up for missing the activity.

4. Each participating school district may be asked to share in the transportation costs of the field trip activity.

5. The distance learning class instructor will be asked to provide a short follow-up report to all principals on how the field trip activity went.

Student Database

A preliminary count of registered students will be taken during the month of May, after assignments have been determined. Principals should submit a finalized Registration List to the WNDLC coordinator no later than May 21. A student roster can then be compiled and distributed to each WNDLC assigned teacher by August.

All relevant health information and/or medical needs should accompany the final registration for the Student Database. The form entitled WNDLC Class Roster (appendix D) should be used to submit all student information.

Student Information Profile

WNDLC teachers may use the Student Information Profile (appendix E) to assist then with gathering relevant student information and getting acquainted with their students. This should be filled out during the first day of class.

WNDLC teachers are responsible for WNDLC class attendance and should submit attendance records along with grade reports to participating remote sites.

Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences

WNDLC teachers are encouraged to arrange for and conduct Parent/Teacher Conferences for all remote sites. Parent/Teacher Conferences should be held via the interactive system in order to expose parents to the technology that is being used to instruct their child, unless the parent feels uncomfortable with it, then other arrangements would need to be made.

Progress Reports

Progress reports should be sent to the appropriate school.

Credit

The instructor will award a percentage grade for WNDLC classes. WNDLC teaching staff should use the form titled WNDLC Grade Reports (appendix F) to submit all WNDLC student grade information. Letter grades will not be issued.

Absentee & Make-Up

The host-site school’s policy on make-up work sets precedence. The WNDLC schools and organization sites will take daily attendance. Students will be responsible for work assigned on days when their home district is not in session.

Taped lessons can be made available to the student with advanced written approval from the instructor. VCR taping is the responsibility of the site requesting the taping. The WNDLC does not provide VCR tapes. Instructors must be notified when taping is taking place. The student is responsible to request the tape of the class and to fulfill daily assignments, tests, and other activities missed. Students can view the tape on campus – NO CHECKOUT.

Test Policy and Procedures

The instructor determines all test procedures. If the instructor deems it necessary to have a proctor present either for a quiz or test, the arrangements should be made with the remote site principal(s). This arrangement should be made 48 hours in advance.

The WNDLC does not provide proctors for after school system operation. Supervising proctor arrangements should be made through the community education organization hosting the activity.

WNDLC Supplies and Materials

WNDLC schools are responsible for the purchase of appropriate materials for the interactive classes they are sending.

The originating site . . .

Will determine and purchase the necessary textbooks, workbooks, and other materials needed for the course. (It is recommended that schools share textbooks to keep costs down, if feasible.)
Notify receiving sites of the costs of consumable workbooks and other materials. (This should be done in the spring prior to the fall semester for budget planning purposes.)

The receiving site . . .

Reimburse the originating site for the cost of textbooks, consumable workbooks and materials.
Return textbooks (if sharing) to the originating site at the end of the term the class is taught in like condition in which they were received.
Be responsible for the cost to replace lost or damaged textbooks from the originating site.
Provide special equipment required by the course (i.e.-lab equipment) as determined by the sending site in the spring prior to the fall semester in which the course is offered.

Supplementary materials such as filmstrips, videotapes, resource books, etc, will be purchased by the originating site and become the property of the originating site. It is suggested that budget support be set aside to meet the requirements of the two-way courses.

Hardcopy Transfers (Fax)

Classroom materials from the originating site can be mailed and/or faxed to the remote sites. All finished classroom materials must be returned in two (2) school days. The WNDLC Instructional Mailing Form (appendix B) should be used as a cover page to accompany faxed, as well as mailed WNDLC materials.

Telephone Usage

Student/Instructor communications can take place on the system. If privacy is needed, the school telephone may be used (with permission).

System Management Operations

The site principal is responsible for WNDLC system equipment operations and management and/or assigns a facilitator that is trained in the operation of the interactive television equipment. Principals will be responsible for setting school clocks to a standardized time.

WNDLC Classroom Visitors

WNDLC teachers at the originating site should be notified in advance of host and/or remote site visitations. All visitations should be scheduled through the building principal.

Non-WNDLC Usage of Distance Learning Classrooms

WNDLC distance learning classrooms may be utilized for non-WNDLC system activities. However, the distance learning classroom equipment will remain intact and in place with NO alterations. Any changes and/or alterations to the equipment that requires service or maintenance to reinstate operations will be invoiced to the responsible party for time and travel of service personnel.

System Failures

Any WNDLC system failures, component or electrical, must be reported by telephone as soon as possible to the WNDLC coordinator at ESU #13 (308-635-3696). It is included on the Contact page of this manual. Please post this list in the Distance Learning Classroom. Also, if the system is not working, please notify all participating sites.

Fire Drills

All local school district fire drill rules apply to all WNDLC distance learning classrooms and students. Student participating in the fire drills will notify the WNDLC instructor that a fire drill is in progress at their school, and they will have to comply with their school’s fire drill rules.

WNDLC Distance Learning Classroom Access

All participating districts will be notified and shall provide access to the WNDLC distance learning classroom for community and higher education. Participating sites will assist users with distance learning classroom set-up and WNDLC operations. (See After School System Operations and Non-WNDLC Usage of Distance Learning Classrooms.)

After School System Operations

After school WNDLC class arrangements and approval must be made with the site principal and WNDLC coordinator. All community and higher education instructors will be required to participate in WNDLC training/inservice prior to going on the system.

Appendix A

WNDLC Student/Parent Agreement

Western Nebraska Distance Learning Consortium

Each student taking a class or course via our interactive telecommunications system (WNDLC) is required to sign the following agreement:

I, ____________________________________________, have registered to take the following class (es)/course(s):

Via the WNDLC Distance Learning Network, be an active participant, and abide by the rules as given by the instructor. I understand that in a distance learning classroom my voice, physical presence, and participation in classroom activities will be transmitted to distance learning sites and may be electronically recorded. I agree that this will not be a violation of my personal rights and release any claims for the use of such.

Signed: _____________________________________

(Student)

_____________________________________

(Parent)