Tuesday, March 17, 2020 Governor Laura Kelly announced all school facilities in the State of Kansas will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Please know we have been working on plans since mid-March, including how we can meet the ongoing learning needs of our students and provide breakfast and lunch for our students ages 1-18.
USD475 School Building Access:All school buildings will remain open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, March 18th through 20th.Hours will be:
- Wednesday, 18th: 8am to Noon and 1 to 7pm.
- Thursday / Friday, 19th & 20th: 8am to Noon and 1 to 4pm
Schools will be open at these times so students and parents may retrieve personal items to include medications, clothing, backpacks, personal items and devices required for possible e-learning.
E-Learning:
Our Teaching & Learning Team is working on the how we will deliver online learning. As soon as these plans are formalized we will share them out.
USD475 Food Service Program Update:Early this morning the District received a waiver to serve meals at restricted sites through March 27th. This approval authorizes a sack meal program for breakfast and lunch at Early Childhood Development Center, Junction City Middle School, Washington Elementary, Spring Valley Elementary and Seitz Elementary on Fort Riley.*It is important for patrons to understand that the District food nutrition program is regulated in the nutritional content of these meals, accountability for distribution and program locations. A waiver is necessary anytime meals are served when school is not in session. Regardless of waiver, federal nutritional guidelines must be followed in the preparation of Grab-n-Go meals. Meals are distributed between 11:30 and 12:30 Monday through Friday at designated locations. Each child will receive a lunch meal for that day plus a sack breakfast for the following morning. Children are not required to attend the school where meals are being distributed however, they must be physically present to receive the meals.
District staff is evaluating demand with the intent to shift or add sites as may be needed. It is currently preparing 500 breakfast and 500 lunch meals daily. The District disinfected all 18 schools over spring break. It will again disinfect its facilities starting the week of March 23rd. Sites serving as food distribution points are disinfected daily.
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.
We are committed to working together as a community to support one another throughout these unprecedented times, and communication will remain a top priority. We will message through school email, our District web-site, and our USD 475 social media platforms.