Challenges

The unique challenges of a small school district

Too few teachers and staff to properly instruct students/
maintain facilities
Fluid locations of students/staff due to COVID-19 quarantines

Lack of internet access in homes due to remoteness and poverty
Slow upload speeds that hamper pace of live education

60+% of population under the poverty line
Engaging students in way they understand

Staffing limitations

Providing connectivity/bandwidth

Cultural

Do small schools face
bigger challenges?

Too much work, not enough workers

Operating in a small school district involves unique challenges. While many are financial, some simply reflect the nature of small schools, such as having too few workers and too much work. As a result, at Howe and similar small districts, a teacher or administrator can wear many hats. When the school bus door swings open, students and parents are often greeted by the principal in the driver’s seat. Or, if they happen to pass by one of the school buildings on a Saturday morning, they may get a
friendly wave from the superintendent - who is laying bricks for a new walk or
trimming the hedges.

Most instructors teach multiple topics, stretching beyond their degreed specialty.
Plus, they must often handle duties outside the classroom that might otherwise fall through the cracks

The COVID-19 pandemic has added even more responsibilities for teachers and staff in small school districts as they attempt to transition to hybrid learning environments. This includes creating and maintaining a reliable and easily accessible stream of on-demand coursework and addressing the need for flexibility between remote and in-person instruction and learning. An instructor might unexpectedly have to teach and manage the entire in-class experience for students remotely, without notice. And, students might pop in and out of class throughout the semester due to temporary quarantines.

Do small schools face
bigger challenges?

Lack of access and slow upload speeds

Another challenge for Howe Public Schools and many small school districts is reliable and secure connectivity. With thirty percent of their students struggling with internet access (60-70% if you include teachers) and over sixty percent of households living under the poverty level, there is a clear need to develop strategies that can help alleviate the strain. Add to that the need for advanced speeds when using real-time video for teaching, and bandwidth can quickly become an issue.

Poverty and engagement

The issue of poverty in the district also has far reaching impacts and creates its own set of cultural challenges. This is a common issue in rural areas or those without a large population and property tax base. This also means many users may not be familiar with advanced technologies. So Howe and similar districts must often develop strategies that show the value of technology while also teaching users how it works. Plus, at Howe they must ensure each student has access to the proper type of device for their learning level, regardless of income level.