Germantown Municipal School District
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HERE for our page for general resources and information regarding the coronavirus.
UPDATES:
It covers what GMSD families can expect next week, a technology survey for those without access, and much more.
The Germantown Municipal School District is following the governor's recommendation to close schools through at least April 24th.
March 19, 2020--Germantown Municipal School District is committed to keeping you informed about rapidly evolving events taking place this week. Our top priority is the safety and health of our students and staff. Below, we’ve compiled a brief overview:
- On Friday, March 13th, Germantown Municipal School District made a joint decision with the six surrounding municipalities to close from March 23rd-March 27th.
- Tennessee Governor Bill Lee made a statement on Monday, March 16th urging every school district in Tennessee to close and remain closed until March 31st to further prevent the spread of this infectious disease.
- GMSD will follow that recommendation, however, we do believe it’s likely the closure will last even longer, and we want you to be aware of that possibility.
- In response, TDOE has applied for waivers with both the Tennessee Legislature and the Federal Government to mitigate concerns about nutrition, assessments, and accountability waivers.
- On March 18th, the TN Education subcommittee met and began work on HB2818-SB2672 Education Waivers Related to COVID-19. Under the bill, the following things would be waived:
- TNReady testing
- Teacher evaluation growth scores based on 2019-2020 assessments (including portfolios)
180 instructional day requirement - BEP-related attendance requirements
- Chronic Absenteeism
Read a full summary of HB2818-SB2672 Education Waivers Related to COVID-19 here.
GMSD is developing parent resources
The district does not know when and if the district will move to distance learning based on TDOE guidance. However, the district office is developing plans to distribute multiple standards-based resources as well other resources for parents to continue learning opportunities.
More than 75% of our standards have been taught and learned. Our staff will be compiling master lists of standards that have not yet been covered.
All of these resources will be available on our website over the course of the next two weeks. Teachers may be reaching out to students and/or parents to say hello.
In an effort to create a uniform learning management platform for grades K-12, the district has expanded Schoology to be available at the elementary school level. Google Hangouts for all students will be utilized by our staff. Virtual training sessions will be provided to parents beginning the week of March 23rd.
Student Meals During GMSD Closure
While GMSD schools are closed, all students may obtain meals from several Shelby County Schools' and other locations, beginning March 23. A listing of meal distribution sites can be found at the following link: http://www.scsk12.org/coronavirusfacts/studentmeals
SCS meal distribution sites will be open between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day. Information about local food pantries is also provided on this website. Meals will be served to all students age 18 and under. The student must be present to receive a meal.
Limited District Office Hours
Upon guidance by the CDC, the District office has limited its office hours from 10 am-2 pm. Our staff is working from home and actively checking email. Our telephone numbers are redirecting to our home offices. Find our contact information, here .
GMSD launches [email protected]
We know you may have additional questions regarding school closures. Please send any additional questions you may have to [email protected]. We will compile a list of frequently asked questions and post them on our COVID-19 GMSD Parent & Family FAQ webpage .
As things continue to change quickly, we will continue to provide updates.
March 16, 2020-Germantown Municipal School District is continuing to monitor the developing situation. Today's updates center around the following two topics:
TRANSFER APPROVALS AND DENIALS
While we are hard at work preparing for the COVID-19 pandemic and the changes that occur each day, we want to make sure that families are updated on the transfer process. The Office of Student Services will be issuing
Approval Letters via email by March 20, 2020. Please check spam and junk folders in your email.
Denial Letters will be sent via post mail no later than March 27, 2020. Please reach out to
[email protected] with any questions.
March 13, 2020-The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly evolving, and we have been closely monitoring the situation. After serious and considerable deliberation and input from many stakeholders, the six municipal Shelby County superintendents in Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, and Millington have made the collective decision to cancel classes, extracurricular activities, and sporting events through the week following Spring Break.
At this time, we are closing schools through Friday, March 27th. This will provide opportunities for social distancing, thorough disinfection of schools and buses, and contingency planning in case prolonged closures are required at some point in the future. We ask that families do not simply view this as an extended Spring Break or additional vacation time. Families should heed the warnings of health experts and limit your social interactions during this time to prevent the spread of the virus.
Thank you for your support as we navigate this challenging situation. We will continue to seek the advice of health professionals as developments occur and make updates as necessary.
March 12, 2020--Response to SCS School CancellationsThe six municipal Shelby County superintendents in Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, and Millington are aware of the decision of Shelby County Schools to cancel classes starting Friday, March 13th through March 30th.
At this time, neither the Shelby County Health Department nor the Tennessee Department of Education have made recommendations to close schools to contain the spread of the coronavirus or COVID-19.
As such, there are no plans to close municipal schools at this time, though the situation is fluid and we will make decisions on school closures as new information emerges.
We will continue to consult with the Shelby County Health Department and the Tennessee Department of Education to make decisions that are in the best interest of our students and staff.
March 9, 2020--The Germantown Municipal School District has received reports from parents who have traveled internationally and have been potentially exposed to COVID-19. We appreciate those parents communicating with the district and encourage others to follow their example. We have also learned that some Germantown Municipal School District parents are choosing to self-quarantine.
At this time, they have no symptoms and have not tested positive for COVID-19.
The parents, out of an abundance of caution, will also be keeping their children self-quarantined to avoid any potential exposure to Germantown Municipal School District students. As of March 9, 2020, we have only heard from parents of children at the following schools; Dogwood Elementary School, Forest Hill Elementary School, and Houston Middle School.
We are working closely with the Shelby County Health Department on this issue and will continue to provide updates as we receive more information or if new developments occur.
As stated previously, we have activated enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures in our schools, and our nursing team is carefully monitoring the health symptoms of students and staff.
The Shelby County Health Department reported the county's first case of COVID-19 on Sunday, March 08, 2020. Should a case of COVID-19 be confirmed in Germantown, we will follow the guidance of the health department.
GMSD has a response committee that oversees the district's crisis plan, which includes preparations for infectious diseases and pandemics. The District already has many protocols in place due to guidance by the Tennessee Department of Education.
Above all, it is important to listen to facts and not respond to fear. The Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) has advised that there is no immediate risk to school-age children at this time. Germantown Schools will continue to collaborate with the SCHD and the Tennessee Department of Education and will update parents as more information becomes available.