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Date: 9/30/2020
WILBRAHAM – Remote learning has become a part of life for many area students and their families, but it creates challenges when parents and caregivers must work during the school-day and supervise their children. Interskate 91 South has launched a Monitored Remote Studies program to help with that dilemma.
Weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., parents can drop off their children between the ages of 6 and 12 at Interskate 91 South, 2043 Boston Rd. in Wilbraham, to do their school work in the facility’s large indoor space.
Interskate markets itself as a quiet, socially distanced “giant classroom.” According to the venue’s website, it provides WiFi, “a safe, clean, environment,” handwashing stations, hand sanitizer, snacks and a water bottle. Students must bring their own fully-charged device and headphones. Lunches can be brought or provided for $7 per day. Skating is allowed once the school-day has ended.
Owner Rob Gould said that the business is operating the program with a licensed exemption from the state and follows all state guidelines for masks, sanitizing, distancing, and group sizes. The program allows a maximum of 26 students at one time, although Gould pointed out most of the students don’t attend all five days of the week as some are in hybrid learning models.
“There’s plenty of space for them to spread out and minimize contact,” Gould said.
Students must be registered ahead of time and the price is $35 per day, which Gould said covers the business’s costs. Registrations began on Sept. 21 with just five students in the first week. Unlike remote studies programs offered by individual school districts, the children at Interskate’s program come from different towns. So far students from school districts in Hampden, Wilbraham, Ludlow and Springfield have registered for the program.
The students are monitored by Interskate 91 South employees who have undergone checks for criminal backgrounds and sex offender status. Gould explained that the employees are there for supervision, but don’t help children with their work.
“We’re not teachers. We’re not tutors. The teachers are available virtually. Most of all we just want to make sure the kids are connecting,” Gould said.
The idea for the monitored remote studies program came out of the summer camp that Interskate 91 South runs. Gould said, campers and their families were talking about needing a place for their children to do their remote learning so the parents and caregivers can work.
“We had first-hand knowledge of a need in the community,” Gould told Reminder Publishing. “It felt natural to offer this. Besides, what else are we going to do with this big space?”
Interskate 91 South cannot reopen as a roller skating rink until phase three, step two of Gov. Charlie Baker’s reopening plan, which Baker announced on Sept. 29, would begin on Oct. 5 for businesses located in designated lower risk communities. When roller skating does return, Gould said it will be on nights and weekends, therefore, the facility can accommodate both remote learning and entertainment.
For more information, call 543-3991 or visit www.interskate91.com/south/remotestudies.