The Florida Department of Education has said the earliest K-12 students will return back to school would be April 15.
School closures are now in effect for all K-12 schools, the district’s VPK and Extended Learning Programs, Osceola Technical College and the Adult Learning Center Osceola.
That date will be reevaluated every two weeks to determine its feasibility as the pandemic progresses. Currently, the district is waiting clarification from the state regarding student make-up day requirements, any waived days from the regular calendars and any employee-related decisions required pursuant to this direction.
All statewide assessments have been cancelled this school year. Information regarding graduation requirements, graduation ceremonies and other end-of-year activities will be forthcoming as the situation progresses. For now, all mass gatherings of 10 or more individuals are canceled on our campuses until April 15.
To ensure children will not go hungry while school is not in session, the district’s School Nutrition Services Department will provide pack-and-go free meals for students at 12 designated sites, which can be found on the school district’s website, from March 23 - April 15, between the hours of 9:30 to 11 a.m. Students will need to be with their parents or guardians who come to pick up the meal items, and we will utilize a drive-in procedure through our bus loops to minimize person-to-person contact.
All district and school administrators should report to their normal work location/school on Monday, March 23, to begin preparing for their students’ instructional continuity plans, unless they are exhibiting symptoms, are quarantined, or have been exposed to someone with the COVID-19 virus. All employees are asked to practice social distancing and healthy habits.
Directions for when and where all other employees (instructional staff, bus drivers, clerical staff, paraprofessionals, and other non-administrative personnel) should report on March 23 will be provided via email.
Nobody should come to work if they are exhibiting symptoms of the COVID-19 virus, including fever and/or dry cough; those individuals must contact their supervisor to request sick leave and contact their medical provider. All individuals who are returning from a cruise or travel out of the country must quarantine themselves for 14 days.
The Osceola County School Board Members and Pace said they were committed to the fact that regular employee compensation will be paid through this extended closure period.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop and spread throughout the country, your Osceola County School Board members and I understand that you have questions, concerns, and fears about the impact on our school district and you as critical stakeholders in our system,” said Pace. “Please rest assured that the School Board and I continue to monitor the situation carefully, and we are working collaboratively with local government officials and local school districts, and most importantly, we are committed to doing everything in our power to mitigate the impact on the families we serve and the dedicated employees who work diligently to meet the needs of our students every chance, every child, every day.”
