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From the Desk of Dr. Halley: School Closure Updates, April 24, 2020

By Halley, Heath on April 24, 2020

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Good afternoon Putnam County Families,

It is April 24th and we are on day 29 of our school closure. I’m sure there are many questions you have regarding school. No, no podcast today, just a good old fashioned letter. I hope this finds each of your families doing well in this troubling time we find ourselves in. It dawned on me that even though I don’t have answers to many questions, I haven’t shared that with you recently.

So, today I would like to take the opportunity to share what I do know. I must admit, though, much of what I will share is...I don’t know. At this time, we have no guidance from the Governor’s office, nor DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) as to when we will be allowed to reopen our doors to our students, families, and community.

To our 2020 seniors and their parents, let me give you my heartfelt sympathies for the manner in which your high school careers came to such an abrupt end on March 16. At this time graduation ceremonies have been placed on hold. The administrative team has met on multiple occasions to discuss and identify possible dates for rescheduling. It is our hope to have more clarity by the May board meeting so that we may recommend a new date for hosting graduation at that time. As soon as a decision has been reached, I assure you we will communicate that information to you.

For all of you wondering about prom, it is still our intent to host prom as well. But, as earlier communicated, it will be done at a time that is safe and appropriate. Again, as more clarity is gained, we will communicate with everyone. Other questions that I have struggled with and am unable to answer are the following: “Can we have summer school in 2020?” “If we can have summer school, then when can we host summer school in 2020?” “When will we be allowed to begin the 2020-2021 school year?”

Our teachers though, not on site, are still working very hard. They have been and continue to update the curriculum as necessary. The Kindergarten-2nd grade staff members have put together multiple paper “homework” packets and have been onsite passing those out. Grades 3-12 staff members have had to completely adapt regular coursework to an online version. We have many teachers hosting regular virtual office/classroom hours. Teachers have expanded their abilities to adapt to electronic instruction. One such example is my senior son, Hayden. Hayden was home today taking a College Trigonometry test. Mr. Fleshman, high school math teacher, has done a tremendous job during this closure making his curriculum fit electronically. Another example from our household is the work Hoyt (6th-grade) is doing. He checks daily for assignments provided by his teachers. These are just a few examples of exemplary work being done by our staff.

I know that this is not the ideal method of instruction or learning, but let me suggest to you that it is still possible. Our district and our staff have shared numerous methods of alternative online education learning sites that can help. For instance, Julie and I require Hoyt to do 1 hour a day of doing math on the Kahn academy website and 1 hour a day reading a book now to be followed with 1 hour a day of writing.

The principals have been busy calling and emailing any parent of a student that failed the 3rd quarter encouraging students to re-do failed work so that they have an opportunity to pass the quarter. They are also interviewing prospective teachers for next year.

I must tell you, the food distribution program has been fantastic. The kitchen staff has been supplemented by countless volunteers and non-certified staff. We have 4 distribution sites: Midway Baptist Church, Livonia park, Lake Thunderhead office parking lot, and of course east side of the school. We distribute Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm. Mr. and Mrs. Tipton and I are also making roughly 30 home deliveries. There are 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches provided in each meal distribution for each Putnam County child who is signed up. We are preparing roughly 3300 FREE meals a week to the children of Putnam County. These are free to any child birth-18 years old. One frustrating fact is that we have about 14-16 no shows each day. That means 168-192 meals a week that are prepared and partially go to waste.

I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment and thank all our wonderful volunteers and essential staff that have made it possible for keeping the doors open and the meals being prepared and distributed.

During this time of social Isolation, I wonder at the technology we have at our fingertips. If social distancing and isolation would have been implemented when I graduated high school in 1991, that would have been even more extreme social distancing without all of the wonderful communication and education tools we have today. I would have gone weeks without seeing anyone, let alone visiting with anyone! My boys are interacting daily with friends, family, and teachers via Skype, Google Meet, Xbox, etc…

In closing, I hope and pray all are well and healthy in your homes and with your family. I look forward to the time when Putnam County R-I has its doors open with teachers teaching and students in classrooms learning. If there is anything that Putnam County R-I or myself can do to assist during this time, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Sincerely, Heath hhalley@putnamcountyr1.net