May 9, 2024
Dear KCSD community,
There was a situation May 7, 2024, during an online reading tutoring session in one of our classes at Bonanza Elementary School. The district has already sent a message to Bonanza families. Since there is misinformation being spread about the incident, we are sharing more information with our community.
Here is what we know: On May 7, a Bonanza Elementary student and teacher were logging on for an online BookNook tutoring session and saw the tutor getting ready to teach without a top (clothing). The Bonanza teacher immediately ended the session and reported the incident to school administration and BookNook. The company terminated the tutor for the incident. The tutor reportedly thought she was covered with an online filter, but the filter was not working properly. The company says it does not allow tutors to use filters during sessions.
The district has spoken with the parent of the student who saw the online tutor. The CEO of BookNook on May 8 also spoke directly to the parent of the student.
BookNook is a synchronous online learning platform using high-impact tutoring to improve reading skills. The Klamath County School District, using funds from a state early literacy grant, contracted with BookNook this spring to offer families of first-, second-, and third-graders an opportunity to register for free online tutoring for their children. The tutoring is done from the student’s home using a personal computer.
The district chose to work with BookNook because their tutors are required to pass background and FBI fingerprinting checks, the same checks the district uses for all school employees. In addition, around 90% of their tutors have college degrees, and all tutors receive specialized training before teaching students.
At Bonanza Elementary, teachers also are using BookNook to supplement reading instruction in their classrooms because many families in the area have limited Internet access at home. Parents were notified about the use of the platform by their classroom teachers.
We are sorry for the trauma this incident caused the student and their family. The district is working closely with BookNook to ensure it has the systems in place to provide our students with safe learning environments.
I want to emphasize that the most effective instruction is between a classroom teacher and their students, and the district remains focused on delivering that instruction.
Sincerely,
Glen Szymoniak
Klamath County School District Superintendent
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