Pandemic Response 3.13.20

This blog is intended to keep our community informed about Toledo School District's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This blog will be updated every Friday morning or as important events unfold. This is one of many ways that you can stay up-to-date on our work to slow the spread of this virus and help keep our neighbors safe.

In response to Gov. Inslee's order to close all K-12 schools in Washington, Toledo SD will suspend classes from Tuesday March 17- April 24, 2020. Monday, March 16 will be a two-hour late start day. This will give students and staff the opportunity to say "so long for now", collect personal items, get orientation to online activities, check out books and packets and connect with classmates. This will also be a time for parents to collect medications and complete forms requesting food service delivery and emergency childcare for law enforcement, fire/EMS, Healthcare workers and employees of the District. Childcare is new work for us, so the Governor expects us to be the "childcare of last resort."

Tuesday March 17 will be a regular workday for TSD staff even though students won't be in attendance. Teachers will be working to create lessons. Classified staff will be involved in food preparation and delivery as well as cleaning and repairing. Our grounds and maintenance teams will be working on continuing their maintenance and repair of buildings and mowing lawns. We will be designing professional development for staff as well as working to improve our programs for students. Finally, staff will continue to work with students remotely through telephone, email and other technology.

All athletic and extracurricular activities have been suspended effective immediately. Don Bowen Day scheduled for Monday March 16 has been postponed. All community activities that were scheduled for district facilities have been cancelled.

Because we are Toledo, I know that we will make the best of a difficult situation. By pulling together while staying apart, we will slow the spread of this virus and not overwhelm our healthcare system. In the end, we will all be better for the effort.

If you have questions about how we're formulating our approach or our plans, I invite you to email me at crust@toledoschools.us. I am creating an FAQ of questions and answers that I will post separately.