COVID-19 SCHOOL CLOSURE – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’S)

Why are schools closed? Due to the COVID-19 statewide emergency, Governor Jay Inslee provided an executive order closing all school districts statewide from Tuesday, March 17th.  This decision was made in order to protect the health of all citizens of Washington State.

How long will schools be closed? In a press release on Monday, April 6, 2020 governor Jay Inslee along with OSPI Superintendent Chris Reykdal announced that all districts statewide would now remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year and would conduct distance learning during this time. 

When is the last day of the school year?  The last day of school for Cheney Public Schools for the 2019-2020 school year will be June 19, 2020. This includes the three make-up days that were already built into the calendar. The remaining missed educational days will be waived this year by the state.

Will meals be provided for students during this closure? Yes, the District will provide meal packs to include breakfast and lunch, Monday – Friday to all children. Meals will be distributed daily and will be available for pick-up at select school sites and various locations throughout the district as follows. Please practice social distancing while picking up meals daily.

How will students be learning from home during the closure? All Districts have been instructed by OSPI to provide only equitable learning opportunities. Equity means more than just technology access. It includes instructional services for students with IEPs, English Language Learners, 504s, Homeless students, etc.

While school buildings are closed, we continue to focus on supporting our students with *continuous learning. In the beginning teachers were adjusting the expectations on a weekly basis for students to continue to engage in meaningful ways. You would have noticed a gradual increase in expectations and communication from teachers. Please continue to respond to teacher's emails, phone calls, and Google Classroom communications. 

*Continuous learning means establishing and maintaining connections with students and families to provide learning materials and supports using a variety of modalities such as email, phone, printed learning materials, and available online platforms.  

Additional at-home learning materials can be found here: At Home Learning Materials

At home learning materials can be turned in to teachers using the following options:

• Take a photo of materials and email the photo to the teacher.
• Scan the materials and email the scan to the teacher.
• Drop off print materials to meal/print delivery sites on Mondays and Wednesdays.

How can my child obtain a District Chromebook? Starting Monday, April 13, if you have a student that is still in need of a Chrome-book, please contact your child's school directly to make arrangements. Click the following link to access the required mobile device checkout agreement: Chromebook Checkout Agreement.

What about state testing? OSPI has canceled all state testing for the 2019-2020 school year to include the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA), the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS), the Washington Access to Instruction and Measurement (WA-AIM), English Learner Progress Assessment for the 21^st Century (ELPA21), and WIDA Alternate ACCESS for ELLs.

What about graduation requirements? As a district, our commitment to your student is to make sure we provide them with as many learning opportunities as possible. A letter grading system best reflects that commitment. Alignment to higher education requirements, NCAA requirements, military enlistment, and entry to post-secondary opportunities may demand the need for credit-bearing requirements. Teachers will be modifying, adjusting course curriculum, and assessing student progress according to established priority/essential standards. Common assignments and assessments will be given across like courses. Additional information on grading expectations for continuous learning can be found here: https://www.cheneysd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1704565&type=d&pREC_ID=1926925. 

Are students able to retrieve personal items from school?  The District is currently developing a process to allow students/families to retrieve personal belongings from the schools while complying with the social distancing and cleaning/disinfecting requirements. We appreciate your patience and understanding in the meantime. If you have an urgent or immediate need to retrieve essential personal belongings from the schools, please call your school site directly to set an appointment. When considering whether or not to retrieve personal items, please weigh their importance relative to the potential risks related to public interactions.  We will honor your requests as long as we are able to do so within the most current social distancing guidelines.

Will Cheney Public Schools provide childcare during the closure?  The District is partnering with Cheney Parks & Recreation to provide Drop-in Services to students between the ages of four-years and fifth-grade. Based on guidance from the Governor and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the services are prioritized for first responders and healthcare, grocery, and pharmacy workers. The District is practicing social distancing, including the health and safety precautions, recommended by the Washington State Department of Health in the drop-in center. If your circumstances have changed or if you now need childcare, the childcare survey can be completed at https://forms.gle/65DGt3jaTrF8SyZs7, if you are not able to complete the survey, please call the parent/community COVID-19 question line at 509-559-4580 or email info@cheneysd.org. 

What will working parents do for childcare that doesn’t fit into the above criteria?  The District has been provided guidance to direct families of first responders and healthcare workers to Child Care Aware Washington or to call 1-800-446-1114. Child Care Aware Washington is tracking available childcare across the state. With the ever-evolving landscape at this time, contacting Child Care Aware Washington is the quickest way for families to get referred to care that is open and available, including extended hours and weekend care options.

 How can we help our children understand what is going on? As more information is learned and shared about the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), you may notice your child experiencing a wider range of emotions such as worry and fear. With the closure of schools some children might also experience sadness and frustration at not being able to interact with their friends and school staff on a regular basis. There are many steps you can take to support your child during these uncertain times. Here are some ideas for families:

• Reassure your child that all feelings are normal
• Make time to talk with your child about their feelings and questions
• Limit screen time and access to social media
• Pay attention to what your child is watching and reading and for how long
• Model positive self-care strategies, your child is learning how to manage their emotions from the caring adults in their life
• Provide honest information that is age-appropriate and avoid sharing assumptions about who is sick with COVID-19
• Work with your child to develop a consistent “new” daily routine

A few helpful resources:

• Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019: Messages for parents, school staff, and others working with children
• COVID Factsheet
• Helping Children Cope
• Talking to your children about school closures
• Managing Anxiety and Stress

What if I still have questions that were not addressed on this FAQ sheet? You can email additional questions to info@cheneysd.org or call the parent/community COVID-19 information line at 509-559-4580.

This document will be updated as we receive new questions as well as continue developing answers to existing questions listed above.  Thank you again for your patience and flexibility.  These are uncertain times, yet together we will get through this situation.

Last updated May 11, 2020