School Closure Update March 25
Dear Tyrone family:
Today, the state Board of Education approved that Oklahoma students not return to the classroom for the remainder of the current school year, as our state continues to fight the spread of COVID-19. They have recommended a continuous learning plan that will allow students to complete the school year at home.
We are sharing this information with you in so that you can begin to prepare accordingly for your family. We understand this will be in the best interest of everyone’s health, which is our greatest priority as a district. This also means that all extracurricular activities and special events will be canceled as well. Making these difficult decisions, we believe, is simply the right thing to do for our students, our staff and our community.
Tyrone will be developing a plan to ensure your child will continue to have opportunities to learn and to grow academically, especially with parental support. We will be receiving guidance and grade level frameworks as this week progresses. As you can imagine, this is a significant transition for our students and our teachers. Tyrone will spend the next two weeks planning for this effort and will share details with your family as soon as they are available.
For students, it likely will be sad and disappointing to learn that school as they know it will not resume this year. Please give them a safe place to express their feelings and to vent about the changes in their life. For our seniors and their parents, we know it is an especially difficult time. We will do everything possible to ensure their efforts are recognized and celebrated in special and unique ways. This is an unfair situation, but please reassure them that it does not diminish their achievements. In fact, it will become one more example of how they demonstrated their strength as a Bobcat.
We have posted numerous resources on our website: www.tyronebobcats.org. The site will be updated regularly as new information is provided. Also please adhere to the recommendations from the CDC about protecting your health and the health of your loved ones. We ask you to please follow their advice by: (1) washing your hands regularly; (2) staying at home, if you can; and (3) practicing social distancing of at least six feet from others.
This is an unprecedented situation, and it has required an unprecedented response. We can still take care of Tyrone’s students, though. This is a community that sticks together in challenging times, and we know this experience will be no different. As soon as we identify our next steps, we will share them with you. We also want to take this opportunity and thank our parents and community for their continued support. As always we pull together as family in times of need. This will be no different. Bobcat Pride!
Please stay safe. As always, we appreciate your support of Tyrone.
Sincerely,
Donovan Smith
Principal
Dear Tyrone Public Schools parents and staff:
This afternoon, the state Board of Education voted to close all Oklahoma schools, effective immediately, until at least April 6 in an effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19. This includes Tyrone Public Schools. Additionally, there will be no school activities during this time.
While state officials mandated schools to close and also encouraged administrators to prepare for the possibility of longer-term closures, if it becomes necessary. At least 35 other states across the country also have made the decision to close schools statewide in the interest of public health.
Oklahoma schools are not expected to be required to make-up the missed days. At this time, schools have been instructed by the state Department of Education not to provide online, home-based or distance learning for students.
This is an unprecedented situation, and it continues to evolve by the hour. We know this uncertainty can cause anxiety and worry, but we want to assure you that Tyrone Administration and Board of Education are doing everything possible to ensure the needs of students and employees will be met during this unique time. We will be closed for classes, but – as a district – we will continue to serve our community, while abiding by the healthy best practices that have been recommended by the CDC. Employees will receive information about their responsibilities during the school closure over the next few days.
We encourage you to comply with what health officials have recommended as well. If you can, please stay home and enjoy family time. If you must go out, please practice social distancing, allowing at least six feet between you and other individuals. If you have questions about COVID-19, please contact your medical professional or the county health department. You also can learn more about how to prevent the illness by visiting https://www.cdc.gov/coron…/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html
Communication will be key during the next two weeks. It is our hope that accurate and up-to-date correspondence will combat fear and panic, as well as help you make well-informed decisions for your family. As a district, we will be sending correspondence to you by Social Media sites and mail.
Child Nutrition is of course a major concern during this difficult time. The plan being developed with Keystone Food Service is to provide a carry out breakfast / lunch daily, Monday through Friday, beginning on Wednesday March 18. Parents or students will be allowed to pick up the meals and leave. Both meals will be provided to the student at the same time. Meals will need to be picked up between 9:00AM and 11:00AM. There will be no eating in the cafeteria. The point of this program will be to get the students fed as best as we can. If students will not be able to pick up the meal delivery will be possible. If you would like to have your child to have the option of receiving breakfast / lunch please contact the school tomorrow, March 17, between the hours of 8:00AM and 3:00PM to be added to the list. This will assist our cafeteria staff in food preparation beginning Wednesday. In addition if you would like to have meal delivery please advise us when you call.
The school is an important part of the community and we jointly share in the responsibility of providing for our children. Please understand that we know that this is a trying time for everyone involved. We, as is everyone, are doing the best we can with the information and guidance given to us. These times cause reflection on our priorities and allow us to think more carefully about what is important to each of us in our lives. Perhaps from this will come a greater sense of community and family.
If you have questions please contact the school at 580 854-6298 and we will try to get answers.
Josh Bell Superintendent Tyrone Public Schools