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 through Friday, April 24th. This decision was made in order to protect the health of all citizens of Washington State.

How long will schools be closed? At this time the planned date to reopen schools is Monday, April 27, 2020. This date could potentially change depending on the spread or containment of COVID-19.

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.

Are students able to retrieve personal items from school?  If you wish to retrieve essential personal belongings from the schools, please call the COVID-19 family line at 509-559-4580 or email info@cheneysd.org; building principals will then contact you to set up 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 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 you were unable to complete the Childcare survey, indicating a need for childcare, or if your circumstances have changed, please call the parent/community COVID-19 question line at 509-559-4580.

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.

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.

Enrichment resources that align with our learning standards have been added to the District website. These resources can be accessed by clicking on the 'At Home Learning Materials' link.  In addition to these resources, printed ELA and math enrichment documents for elementary students will be available at all food distribution sites on March 24th and 25th. If you are unable to make it to a food distribution site and would like these printed materials, please call the COVID-19 parent line at 559-4580 to make other arrangements.  Additional resources for all grade levels will be determined over the coming days and will be shared as soon as they are available. These optional resources and activities are recommended (not required) to help students continue to learn and build their skills. We continue to take into consideration that not all students will have access to internet services.   

What about state testing? OSPI has cancelled 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? At this time, we are awaiting guidance from the State of Washington.  Our State Superintendent has indicated that a high priority for the State is to address graduation requirements for current Juniors and Seniors.  Immediate priorities for our school district, and districts around the State, are meeting the basic needs of students and families, such as food service and childcare.  Once we have firm plans in place around basic needs, our priority will shift to addressing graduation requirements for our high school students.  The COVID-19 situation is a state-wide emergency impacting all high school students in Washington, and we are confident our State Superintendent and State Board of Education will provide reasonable and fair solutions for our students to remain on track for on-time graduations.

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 question 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 March 25, 2020