Parents and Students,
Yesterday, Governor Parsons issued a "Stay Home Missouri Order" for all citizens. Specific guidance states that schools shall be closed and these guidelines followed until April 24, 2020.
The process in place regarding food distribution will not be affected. Parents will continue to be able to obtain food for students from our Robinson Elementary pick-up spot (8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.). Please remember we will not distribute food on Friday, April 10 and Monday, April 13 due to these days originally scheduled as off for Easter Break.
We will also continue to have the previously advertised instructional materials delivery (grades preschool through 8th) on Monday, April 6 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Parents who want to participate will drive through the drop-off/pick-up loop at their child's building, receive the packet from a gloved principal at a safe distance and then drive off.
If you have a child in High School, many of the assignments will be found through the Canvas platform. If he or she needs a paper packet, please call Central Office at 678-3373. If your child receives special education services, many of these packets will also be available through electronic means. If you are unable to receive the information through this mode, please contact Central Office.
Some may ask if this is in compliance with the Governor's order. I believe the materials are essential for continued student progress even though these packets are for practice/review and grades will not be given for completion. Also according to #7 listed on the order, a drive-thru regarding food is considered an acceptable delivery manner. Because we are taking precautions to limit interactions and to ensure safety of both the person picking up and person delivering, I believe it meets the spirit of the order.
If parents do not want to participate in this activity, I am working (with the help of the principals) to make accessible links available online (District website-aurorar8.org). These links will not be fillable; however, parents will be able to print or copy using paper/pencil for use with their child. This will also allow parents to have the information without taking risks they may believe too dangerous to complete. I do not want people to put themselves in any type of jeopardy.
At this time, I do not know of any confirmed cases in Lawrence County. This is a great thing and I encourage you to continue practicing preventative precautions to keep the possibility low.
My hope is to be able to come back for a short period of time before the May 19, 2020 end date. While this looks unlikely, it would be beneficial to give a proper "good-bye" for students, allow them to retrieve items still in the buildings, obtain the devices we distributed and possibly have some type of ceremony (even if not a typical graduation) for the seniors who have sacrificed many memories due to the closure. It would also allow us to get a firm start on summer school which could be very productive for students and teachers since we have had this lengthy break.
Thank you for working with us during this difficult time. We appreciate your patience and hope that we can soon return to school as everyone so desperately desires.
Stay safe and healthy,
Billy