Broken Arrow Deep Cleans Schools During Distance Learning

Broken Arrow Public Schools are back in distance learning this week, so the district is using the time to deep clean its facilities, as well as focus on building repairs and air quality services.

Broken Arrow Public Schools said it is doing everything it can to make distance learning work, after seeing an alarming shortage in crucial staff including bus drivers, custodial workers, and technology experts.  

BAPS said Monday was already planned as a distance learning day, but last week, they made the decision to move the entire district to distance learning through Friday. The district said there will not be any staff on site this week, but maintenance and operations crews will do a district-wide deep cleaning.  

"Just a matter of mathematics, I mean, if it was the desire in my heart to being my classroom, we'd be in my classroom, but the cool math says we have some missing staff in key areas,” said Chris Nulf, Broken Arrow High School history teacher. 

The district said no in-person tutoring will take place and special education students will not attend class in-person.  

"Distance learning just isn't the same for all students. It works great for a portion but for the majority it's not the same as in-person,” said Nulf. “I miss the times when I don't see my students and the video chats that I have with them are just not the same." 

Nulf said students adapt but it’s better in person because they can ask questions, are more engaged, and he is able to hold them accountable. He said, for reference, 10 out of 150 students usually don't pass fall semester of his class but this year that number has increased to 29. 

Child Nutrition is serving meals from 12 – 1 p.m. in front of all the schools throughout the work week. 

Nulf said the transition to online learning is tough, but said they're making it work.  

"We're in this job because we love kids,” said Nulf. “We love to teach, and we want them to be successful. That's really what it comes down to." 

Nulf said, luckily, the school district hasn’t had to do a lot back and forth between distance and in-person learning.  

"That's one of the things that I really appreciate about our superintendent,” said Nulf. “"The custodial staff, the administration, it really does a fantastic job of maintaining a safe school environment and I have no concerns at all when I walk through the halls."

The district said it will not report COVID-19 numbers this week but will resume reporting those numbers when classes resume next Monday.   

You can read the full statement from Broken Arrow Public Schools below.  

“The safety and health of our students and staff is of the highest priority in Broken Arrow Public Schools, and while maintenance and operation staff can enter our school sites unfettered to engage in the latest cleaning technologies, it is important to note that the district going to distance learning is more than about cleaning. The district employees that enact our COVID safety protocols have been hit hard by the pandemic, including technology, student data, transportation and custodial staff, and we are not able to safely run all departments and provide safety for students and staff as efficiently if we were at full staffing numbers. All of this is against a backdrop of a sharp increase in student and staff cases.”