Gary schools closed until April 6 as Coronavirus Pandemic heightens
Contributed By:The 411 News
Students get take home learning materials and can get meals at distribution sites across the city
Officials of the Gary Community School Corporation announced the closing of schools for the next 3 weeks in an effort to diminish the spread of the coronavirus.
"The health and safety of our students and staff would be at risk, so closing schools was the best decision," said GCSC Emergency Manager Dr. Paige McNulty. "We will continue to monitor the situation and work with our local and state partners to navigate these uncharted waters."
Students were sent home with 3 weeks’ worth of instructional materials. Supt. McNulty said, “The daily use of these materials will count as an instructional day by the Indiana Dept. of Education. Students must submit completed packets upon their return in order for their absence to be approved.”
The school district is also providing students with meals for each week. GCSC has partnered with local churches and organizations that will serve as daily food distribution sites. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to youth ages 18 and younger.
A list of sites can be viewed on the district’s website www.garycsc.k12.in.us
Students will be eligible to receive five days’ worth of meals on Mondays: March 16, March 23, and March 30. All families will need to check in with the district’s F.A.C.E. Liaisons at each site before receiving their meals. A security officer will be on staff at each site.
According to the GCSC Facebook page, “Bus transportation will be available to our food sites on Mondays only -- not Monday through Friday as reported earlier. Please visit the GCSC website for the full schedule.
"We appreciate the support and cooperation of our parents, students, local government and community partners," said McNulty. "We are all in this together and must lean on one another to get through this difficult time."
Full details of the District's Coronavirus plan as well as the student instructional materials can be found at www.garycsc.k12.in.us. Periodic updates will also be shared on the school corporation's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
Story Posted:03/15/2020
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