Mandated School Closure Details
March 15, 2020
As was communicated to you previously, Governor Pritzker issued a state-wide directive to all Illinois schools to close as a precautionary measure against further spread of the Coronavirus. Initially, we announced all West Central Schools will be closed beginning Tuesday, March 17 through Monday, March 30. After much discussion and out of an abundance of caution, there will be no student attendance on Monday, March 16 as well. This day will now be a Teacher's Institute day for our staff. This closure applies to ALL school related activities, including all athletic and extracurricular practices and competitions; organizational activities, ceremonies, performances and competitions; parent-teacher conferences, as well as weekend events. For those students involved in athletics, please keep in mind it is an IHSA infraction for an athlete to practice with other teams throughout the IHSA regular season. This would still be applicable in this situation. The school facilities will not be available to students or to internal or external organizations throughout this mandated closure. Some activities will be rescheduled, and we will communicate the rescheduled dates as soon as we know them.
Engage Learning and Attendance
All days that a school is closed pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order will be Act of God Days, and from the guidance we have received at this time will not need to be made up at the end of the school year.
In an effort to provide continuity of learning during this mandated closure, the Illinois State Board of Education is strongly encouraging districts to provide instruction to students through whatever means possible. West Central is doing this through engaged learning. In addition, ISBE has compiled a library of online resources at www.isbe.net/keeplearning.
An engaged learning day packet that contains two weeks’ worth of lessons will be provided to students in Pre-Kindergarten through 2nd grade as well as those students who do not have internet access. Some of these folders were sent home with students on Friday. If your child is in Kindergarten, 1st, or 2nd grade or does not have access to the internet, the engaged learning packets will be available for pickup on Monday, March 16 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the school your child attends. If your child did not bring it home on Friday and you are unable to pick up the packet during the above listed time, please contact the office of the building your child attends on Monday, March 16 before 5:00 p.m. In addition, students who need to get items from their desk or locker may come to the school on Monday, March 16 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. as well.
Students in 3rd – 12th grade have been issued a Chromebook and charger in a bag. Lessons will be uploaded to an engaged learning platform of each teacher’s preference and has been shared with our students. Some teachers will also provide additional materials in the form of a packet to go along with their online lessons. Your child’s teacher will contact you if this applies to you. Students were shown how to check in with their first hour or classroom teacher last Friday as well as how to access and submit assignments. Students should check in daily. Teachers will provide feedback on assignments as appropriate. Our teachers and students are already familiar with a digital environment where the teacher is in the room for guidance; however, with e-learning, email and other electronic communications will become the norm. If your child has technical issues with his or her Chromebook, please contact Melinda Frakes at frakes-melinda@wc235.k12.il.us
Special Education
For students who have scheduled IEP meetings over the next two weeks, you will be contacted directly by a district employee.
Meals
We will be offering free breakfast and lunch meals to ALL students, regardless of free/reduced meal status, during this mandated closure. We ask that you let us know your desire to have these meals by clicking on this LINK and completing the “order form” by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 16, so that we can get an accurate count and adequately plan. Please make sure to note any food restrictions within the “order form” so that planning can be made on your behalf. If you cannot access the order form, please call (309) 627-2371 to place your order. If it is outside of normal business hours, please leave a message. The initial order will be for the duration of the closure.
Meals will be packed for three (3) days at a time (3 breakfasts and 3 lunches). Milk (6) will be included in the meal service. Some of the items may be perishable, so please be sure to refrigerate immediately.
Meals can be picked up at the following locations in a drive thru fashion as grab-and-go meals:
West Central Elementary
West Central Middle School
Biggsville - Reid Park (Valley Street)
Carman – Community Center
Gladstone - Park Located Closest to Train Tracks
Oquawka - Ball Diamond
Raritan - Bank
Rozetta - FS
Smithshire- Park
Pick up days will be Monday, March 16, Thursday, March 19, Monday, March 23, and Thursday, March 26. You may pick up meals from West Central Elementary or West Central Middle School from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. on these days. Pick up times for locations in our communities other than our schools will be 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Medication
Any parent that needs student medication currently stored at the school over the closure may pick it up on Monday, March 16 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. If you are not able to pick it up at this time, please contact the school office and schedule a time for pick up.
Emergency Circumstances
If a student is in an emergency situation or homeless during the course of the statewide closure, please contact the District office at (309) 627-2371 or law enforcement personnel.
School Calendar
Since these will be considered Act of God days, based on the guidance we have at this time, we will not be required to make them up at the end of the school year. As a result, there will be very little, if any, change to the end of year calendar. Final dates will be communicated to you soon.
As we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our entire community, we will do our best to keep you updated and informed. Throughout this closure email correspondence will be the most effective as our offices will not be fully staffed and will have varying hours. You can locate our Staff Directory with contact information via this LINK. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we take every precaution to protect the health and safety of staff, students, and community.
Sincerely,
Paula Markey, Superintendent
West Central C.U.S.D #235
