I
hope you and your family were able to enjoy a portion of your spring break in
light of the COVID-19 health crisis. Thank you for your continued support as we
work together to ensure our students stay safe, healthy and continue their
learning.
As
you know Governor DeSantis and the Department of Education extended a directive
requiring all school districts in the state of Florida to close for students
until April 15.
District
staff has been working throughout spring break to prepare for digital instruction,
and to address the questions from families and staff. This is an
extraordinary situation. We are committed to make decisions with the best
interests of our students, families and staff in mind. We must all recognize
that processes may not be optimal or perfect, but we are dedicated to
continuously improving our supports for our staff, students and
families during this unprecedented situation.
Digital Learning for Students
This
week, March 23-27, students and families can access grade level, academic enrichment
activities and get to know the digital platforms that are available through
our Digital Learning Students and Families webpage. A link to these activities is now available on your
school’s website. During the week of March 23-27 our teachers will be working
collaboratively to prepare for digital instruction on our Microsoft Teams
platform. This will, no doubt, be a shift for our teachers and students.
We are working with our teachers to plan for and provide the best possible
experience for all students in all grade levels.
On Monday, March 30, the district will transition to course/class
specific assignments developed and led by their teachers utilizing the
Microsoft 365 Teams (Microsoft Teams) platform. On Microsoft Teams, your
student’s teacher(s) will be able to give class specific lessons and messages
directly to their students.
All resources for students and families, including frequently
asked questions and how-to tutorials are available on our dedicated webpage for
Digital
Learning for Students and Families.
To prepare, students and families can:
- Review the
Digital
Learning Students and Families webpage and resources (https://www.pcsb.org/Page/32734)
- Ensure you
know your student’s R2D2 number and password so they can log-in to digital
learning environments.
- If you or
your student do not know their R2D2 number, please use the information on
the attached document or contact our Digital Learning Helpline at
727-588-6060 which will be open starting on March 23.
We
will begin distributing laptops and tablets for students in need beginning
Tuesday morning, March 24. You will receive a message directly from your
principal on Monday with details on the distribution process.
Thanks to Spectrum, free WiFi is available to our students.
To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395. All installation fees will be waived for
new student households. WiFi hotspots across Spectrum’s footprint will
also be available for public use.
Individual Education and 504 Plans
Students
with Individual Education or 504 Plans will continue to have accommodations and
services available in the digital platform. Students with an IEP can
expect their case manager to contact them through Microsoft Teams the week of
March 30.
Food & Nutrition Resources for Students
Our
Food and Nutrition Team will also be distributing free meals this week at nine
of our schools this week for Pinellas County Schools students ages 18 and
younger. From March 23-27 each location will
serve a lunch and breakfast, in a single bag. While we encourage parents
and caregivers to drive to our locations, we will also be accepting
walk-ups.
School
|
Time
|
Dunedin Elementary
900 Union St., Dunedin |
10:45 am - 11:45 am
|
Eisenhower Elementary
2800 Drew St., Clearwater |
11:00 am - Noon
|
Fairmount Park Elementary
575 41st St. S, St. Petersburg |
10:15 am - 11:15 am
|
Marjorie K. Rawlings Elementary
6505 68th St. N, Pinellas Park |
11:00 am - Noon
|
John Hopkins Middle
701 16th St S, St. Petersburg |
10:30 am - 11:30 am
|
New Heights Elementary
3901 37th St. N, St. Petersburg |
10:45 am - 11:45 am
|
Ponce De Leon Elementary
1301 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Clearwater |
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
|
Southern Oak Elementary
9101 Walsingham Rd., Largo |
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
|
Tarpon Springs Elementary
555 Pine St., Tarpon Springs |
10:30 am - 11:30 am
|
If you are not able to go to one of the school sites listed above,
other local food providers throughout the county are offering free, nutritious
meals for our students. A complete list of sites throughout our community can
be found at: https://211tampabay.org/home/food-and-meals/
The district is working to expand the number of distribution sites
beginning March 30. We will share an updated list as soon as it is finalized.
Student State Assessments
The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has announced that all
PK-12 student state assessments will be cancelled for the 2019-20 school year.
FDOE will provide guidance to school districts in the near future regarding any
potential impacts for students. As the district learns more information,
we will share this with our community.
State School Grade Designations vs. Student Grades
The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has announced that all
school grade designations will not be calculated for schools for the 2019-20
school year.
Students will continue to
earn grades based on their progress in their classes. Student grades and credits
will continue to count toward promotion and/or graduation.
Student Instructional Hours
The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has announced that the
Commissioner is evaluating how digital instruction will count toward student
instructional hours. The Commissioner may reduce required K-12 instructional
hours, as necessary, to accommodate for school closures.
Information and resources are available on
the district website which is updated on a regular basis at www.pcsb.org/coronavirus.
I know the transition to digital learning may not be easy and
that there will be new questions and challenges that arise. We will work together, with care and compassion, to
support our students and community through this difficult time. Pinellas County
Schools remains committed to providing a high-quality education to our
students. We appreciate your continued patience and support.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Pinellas County Schools
Superintendent
Pinellas County Schools
