Dear Topeka Public School Parents and Guardians: Today, March 17, 2020 Governor Laura Kelly announced all school facilities will close for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. We are working with the Kansas State Department of Education to develop alternative learning opportunities for all students and will share more information soon. We recognize this may present a hardship for families and we will do what we can to support our students during this time. Our district leadership team members have been developing a contingency plan, including how to provide breakfast and lunch for our students. Breakfast and lunch meals were provided today and our COVID-19 Response Crisis Team was implemented this week to plan ways to support students and staff in an alternative learning environment.
We will provide updates on how this will impact our high school students who are preparing to graduate and we will share information regarding ongoing alternative learning opportunities off-site, which will not start prior to March 30, 2020 under the guidance from the state department.
We are committed to working together as a community to support one another throughout these unprecedented times, and communication will continue to remain a top priority as we gain more information. The past messages over the last week that have been provided to families can be accessed on the superintendent's blog on our web page and our CNews on Wednesday will be focused on COVID-19. We will provide additional information that parents and staff will need in the Wednesday CNEWS.
As a reminder, this school closure is in response to the current public health crisis. The focus should remain on preventing the spread the coronavirus, or COVID-19 as it is also referred to. Please be mindful of the following:
· Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
· Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing (cough/sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue).
· Please keep sick children at home.
· Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.
Follow additional guidance from these sources:
Thank you for your patience and support during this time as we continue to respond to the current matters and as we work together in support of the health and safety of our children and our community.