As Guilford County Schools in North Carolina scrambled to transfer learning online, leaders had an additional mission: Provide care for children of front-line hospital employees, says DA guest columnist Weaver Walden, who runs the program.
Parents expressed strong support for teachers and principals, while educators are growing concerned that they are not reaching all students with online learning.
Schools need billions of dollars in resources and added staff to reopen safely in the fall, at a time when many states and local governments expect drastic budget cuts.
DA guest columnist Jeff Babbitt shares how the supportive (and flexible) faculty and staff at Genesee Valley Central School District are ensuring that the essential needs of students and families are met—from instruction and technology to meals and even virtual lunchtime gatherings.
COVID-19 meal delivery requires written notice, as the National School Lunch Act and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act do not authorize release of household contact information for children without the parent's formal consent.
A School Nutrition Association survey finds most are engaged in emergency food assistance, but face a variety of challenges, including sustainability, says DA guest columnist Gay Anderson, SNA president and child nutrition director at Brandon Valley School District in South Dakota.
Sharing up-to-date district news communitywide and ensuring that messages are clear, concise and consistent is key, says DA guest columnist Mark D. Benigni, superintendent of Meriden Public Schools in Connecticut.
The growing number of closures is raising questions about where some students will get free- and reduced-price lunch and other federally provided meals.
