Kathy Wright
and Tammy Cook prepare home lesson plans Friday in the resource room at
Prospect Elementary School. Teachers and
support staff worked Friday to prepare at-home lessons for students during the
three-week closing of schools ordered by Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday.
The mandated
shutdown is one in a series of actions taken by the governor in an attempt to
slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The lesson
packets will be sent home with students on Monday, the last day schools will be
in session until April 6. Completed lessons are to be returned then.
“We are asking parents, guardians and grandparents to monitor these home lessons and encourage their children and grandchildren to read, read, read,” Superintendent Stan Jefferson said. “We must do all we can to sustain learning during this interruption.”
Some
students have medications at school which are administered by nurses. Parents
who need those medications during the three-week closure should pick them up on
Monday.
Principals
will be in their buildings from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Parents who need to pick up home-study lessons or medications should call the
school in advance.
“We recognize that our free school lunch program is important to many families,” Jefferson said. “We are developing a plan to provide nutritionally balanced sack lunches to our students each weekday through April 3 at a central distribution site. This plan requires state approval, which we hope to have early next week. We will share details as soon as possible.”
While there are many uncertainties about the weeks ahead, Jefferson said the district’s spring break – April 13-17 – will remain in place because too many families have plans than cannot be changed.
“There are questions that simply cannot be answered at this time,” Jefferson said. “What happens if the governor extends the closure? What about the state testing schedule? When can school activities and events resume?
“We will continue to work closely with the Ohio Department of Education and monitor the governor’s office,” Jefferson said. “As we receive information, we will share it with our families.”