OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — The Omaha Public School board heard from some parents concerned about how remote learning has been going.
This comes after the district held a special meeting earlier this week to discuss what needs to happen in order for students to return to the classroom.
The meeting started out on a personal note with Amanda Ryan, a board member, stating she's received comments from the public that because she does not have kids of her own, she doesn't care about OPS students.
"I care so deeply for these children," Ryan said.
Lisa Carlson, an Omaha resident, was one of many of the people to speak.
"Once you've had kids, sometimes your perspective does change," Carlson said. "I was a young adult, didn't have kids and I thought I knew it all."
Nicki Tellis used her time to raise concerns about remote learning.
Tellis says her son is immune compromised, which is why she supports remote learning. However, she is also concerned for his education due to his Individual Education Plan.
"I think that our kids with IEP's are already being left behind and they are being more left behind in the way that the school day is being orchestrated," Tellis said.
Others say their kids are struggling to manage remote learning while on IEP's, as well.
"We were told that we would receive phone calls everyday from her special education teacher," Michelle Crabtree said. "We have not gotten a single phone call."
While many were praising the school board for sticking to a remote schedule, they add the district needs to address technology issues to successfully move forward.
"Experts should have known that you cannot, in fact, add thousands of devices onto a network and expect it to work," Adam Gotschall said. "That just doesn't work."
"The apps on her iPad do not always work," Linda Hanson, a grandmother of OPS students, said. "Some of the work that she turns in, she is told that it has not been received."
The school board members worked to connect these individuals with the right staff to help iron out these technology issues.
