By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City Schools had already told students to stay home Friday to give teachers a chance to prepare for the possible prolonged closing of schools, and to plan for providing students with meals in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
As of Thursday afternoon, the scenario was no longer an “if.”
Gov. Mike DeWine announced in a press conference that K-12 schools in Ohio would be on an “extended spring break” for three weeks through April 3.
“This was not a shock given the current situation with the COVID-19 (Coronavirus), however, the length of closing was unexpected,” Bowling Green Superintendent Francis Scruci said Thursday evening in an email to parents.
So Bowling Green students – who just came back from spring break earlier this week – will now be off another three weeks.
“This is all new territory for all of us,” Scruci said Friday morning. “We’re trying to prepare curriculum and how we deliver it for the next three weeks. This is just an unprecedented situation.”
As of Friday morning, Bowling Green City Schools had not received any directive from the Ohio Department of Education, nor any guidance if this move will require the extension of the school year.
As for the upcoming state testing, Scruci referred to DeWine’s comments made Thursday during the press conference – “If we don’t test, we don’t test,” Scruci said of the governor’s statement.
“Right now there are more questions than there are answers,” he said.
The teachers are working on extended “blizzard bags,” but Scruci said those really don’t provide high quality instruction.
“We want to try to deliver something better than that,” he said.
Families of students are being surveyed to see how many have access to WiFi, and how many have computers or laptops at home.
“We’ve identified a lot of problem areas,” Scruci said. So the district is planning to make Chromebooks available to students who otherwise lack access.
As for teaching staff, the contract requires them to have an online presence. After the district surpasses its allowed calamity days, teachers may have to report to their schools.
But those details really aren’t firm at this point, Scruci said.
“It’s all fluid,” he said.
The school district is also devising a plan to get lunches delivered to all the students.
“We’re looking to feed all kids,” Scruci said. Those details are still being ironed out.
“This type of closing is unprecedented and will be a huge undertaking and will without question have an impact on our families who depend on child care,” Scruci said in his email to parents.
Until further notice, all school related activities are canceled. The previously scheduled board of education meeting for Monday on the handling of COVID-19 concerns has been canceled.
The school district has been working with the Wood County Health Department for guidance on handling this situation.
“This virus is dangerous and the health and safety of our students, staff, and community is most important. Again, we certainly understand the burden that this may be causing your family but there is little the district can do,” Scruci said in his email to parents.
