When the COVID-19 school closures were first announced, principal Phillip Woods and his staff at Woodland Hills High School began preparing virtual instruction for their students.

They soon learned, however, that school districts had to guarantee that all students had access to technology if the lessons were to count toward a grade. Because the district could not make that guarantee, plans to implement virtual learning had to be stopped.

As the statewide school shutdown extended from two weeks to three, then later became indefinite, Mr. Woods realized that he could wait no longer. The district would have to make a concerted effort to supply the necessary devices to all of its students.

“Our kids are going to be missing four or five months worth of instruction,” Mr. Woods said. “So trying to plan ahead, I was thinking we need to get the devices in the hands of our students so that we now can teach and grade new instruction.”

The high school began a drive to raise money so that the district can purchase Chromebook laptop computers for all of the students who need them. The district estimated that it will need to acquire 700 laptops to be able to move forward with instruction.

The efforts were first advertised to the district’s alumni group, but anyone can make a donation though the Woodland Hills Foundation website. The school enlisted the help of the Woodland Hills Foundation to ensure the fundraising was done properly and see that it is shared between all of the schools in the district.

Mr. Woods was cognizant of other districts that have the necessary resources and have already continued their lessons. He said he intends for instruction to restart in the district by mid-April.

Mr. Woods said the COVID-19 shutdown has created other challenges, such as creating educational content that can be taught virtually, communicating with the community, and getting an understanding of what is expected from the state Department of Education. Also, even if students do receive a laptop, he worries some may not have access to Wi-Fi.

But the first thing Mr. Woods said he is focused on is getting his students set up with the necessary equipment.

“There’s a number of obstacles, but I look at it like a steeplechase,” he said. “You can’t look at the obstacle that’s 100 yards away, you’ve got to look at the obstacle that’s right in front of you.”

Andrew Goldstein: agoldstein@post-gazette.com.

First Published: March 31, 2020, 10:19 p.m.