Dear ACPS Staff,
As the coronavirus situation continues to evolve, we want to provide you with an update of our plans.
The ACPS Emergency Operations Plan for flu pandemics has been adjusted over the past week in collaboration with the Alexandria Health Department to ensure it meets the very specific needs of the coronavirus situation. In addition, we have a detailed plan in place that includes every operational aspect of the school division if we are required to close all schools.
At the present time, the Alexandria Health Department is not recommending ACPS to close its schools. They are not yet seeing transmission of the coronavirus occurring between people where the source is unknown, otherwise known as a community-spread. We are working closely with the Alexandria Health Department and the CDC to determine our status. We will update you immediately should this recommendation change.
In the meantime, please be sure that you have signed up to receive ACPS emergency text messages via Alexandria eNews. This opt-in service is the only way we can send text messages to staff. You will continue to receive emails with any urgent notifications, per our usual process, and can find an overview of ACPS emergency communication procedures on the website.
Starting tomorrow, please remind your students that they should take their Chromebook home every day. This includes elementary school students in grades 3 – 5. Elementary school remote learning packets will be delivered to schools and need to be sent home tomorrow in backpacks. These should be kept at home ready to be used should circumstances arise where we are required to close schools for a period of time. The situation is evolving quickly. We want to ensure that all staff and students have the necessary tools should we need to make a sudden decision. Therefore, we need to make sure we are prepared now for any eventuality.
This is a difficult time for all of us. I personally want to thank you for your patience and resilience as we work through this situation. We will continue to keep you updated. In the meantime, please be aware that we are as prepared as we possibly can be to respond to the coronavirus situation.
Please make sure you stay current by reading the key points that follow this letter.
Stay healthy!
Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.
Superintendent of Schools
What action is needed around instructional packets and Chromebooks
The biggest lift right now is on our instructional staff, including our teachers, technology support staff and curriculum and instruction staff. Part of our plan is to transition to online learning should we be required to close our schools and this requires planning and preparation of instructional materials for every student.
Starting Monday, please remind your students to take home their Chromebooks every day. This includes any elementary school student in grades 3 – 5. For elementary school staff, please make sure that you work with your principal so that students get their printed Learning Packets as soon as possible. You should also take your laptop home each night. We cannot predict what the next few days will bring.
What is ACPS doing about limiting non-essential gatherings?
In light of overnight changes in the CDC’s recommendations, we are now requesting that all non-essential gatherings be limited. This means that PTA meetings, school events, after-school activities and athletic events should be canceled wherever possible.
The travel guidelines shared yesterday in the staff FAQ still remain.
What are we planning to do around food access?
We are committed to providing food for our students who qualify for Free and Reduced Price Meals and continue to work on the details of exactly how we can do this. We will share this information with you as soon as it has been finalized.
How do I make sure I’m receiving text messages about closings?
In the meantime, please be sure that you have signed up to receive ACPS emergency text messages via Alexandria eNews. This opt-in service is the only way we can send text messages to staff.
You will continue to receive emails with any urgent notifications, per our usual process, and can find an overview of ACPS emergency communication procedures on the website.
Should we be required to close our schools, staff will receive a daily email update around noon each day. Our goal is to keep you updated with any new information as we get it.
Are ACPS webinars recorded and available online?
Last night, Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. and Dr. Stephen Haering, Health Director for the Alexandria Health Department answered questions around the evolving situation with coronavirus. Listen to this webinar on the ACPS website.
Tonight, Dr. Hutchings and Dr. Haering joined the City Manager and hospital administrators for a webinar on city preparations. You can access this webinar through the ACPS Facebook page or the City’s website.