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The challenges of online learning due to stress and students’ lack of access to technology, is driving a growing number of school districts to the end the 2019-2020 school year early.

The Bibb County School District in Georgia, for example, has moved up its last day from May 22 to May 1. In a message to the district, Superintendent Curtis Jones congratulated students who improved their semester grades since the coronavirus outbreak shut down schools. The district will use the remaining weeks that schools would have been open to conduct professional development and collect the computers and other devices that have been distributed to students.

In Nebraska, many districts have all shortened their school year by at least a week, stating that dismissing students early gives teachers time to reassess online learning and begin planning for next year.  In New Hampshire, the stress families and educators have experienced during the shift to remote learning led to one school district, Monadnock School District, to the end the year two weeks early. Also in New Hampshire, Dover Public Schools moved its last day up to June 5, from June 22.

Some districts ending school year early over distance learning challenges

Via www.nbcnews.com

“I heard complaints from teachers that they were trying to teach their students, they were…

04/30/2020 4:23 PM

 

Amazon recorded a 26% increase in sales driven by a surge in shopping by consumers worried about leaving home during the coronavirus pandemic. Chief executive Jeff Bezos said in a statement that Amazon intends to ramp up spending to address the challenges and business opportunities presented by the coronavirus, adding, “If you’re a shareowner in Amazon, you may want to take a seat, because we’re not thinking small.”

Sales soared to a record high $75.5 billion in the first quarter, up from 59.7 billion the same quarter a year ago, the company reported Thursday. However, profits fell 29%  to $2.5 billion. “But these aren’t normal circumstances,” Bezos said. “Instead, we expect to spend the entirety of that $4 billion, and perhaps a bit more, on COVID-related expenses getting products to customers and keeping employees safe.”  

Amazon continues to struggle to meet the huge demand from Americans and international customers, many of whom have remained at home for more than a month as the coronavirus pandemic spreads. Amazon has prioritized stocking and delivering items deemed most essential and raced to hire 175,000 U.S. workers in the span of a few weeks.

Amazon’s quarterly sales surge to record $75 billion

Via www.cbsnews.com

The dominant ecommerce company is seeing demand for all its services skyrocket as consumers…

04/30/2020 5:10 PM

 

Editorial credit: Mike Mareen / Shutterstock.com