Superintendent Update May 1, 2020

Pinellas County Schools Families,
 
Please watch the video message linked below, from Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Grego.

https://youtu.be/1OCzusOpiZ8

The contents of the video message and more information, including a Teacher Appreciation link, information about graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020, and a Spanish translation are available below for your convenience.
 
Pinellas County Schools Families,

As we close out our fifth week of digital learning, I want to continue to express my gratitude and appreciation for the support you continue to provide your students. My hope is that the last four weeks of the 2019-20 school year is filled with lessons and experiences that are creative, innovative and unlock the curiosity and love of learning within every student.

As a district we have a number of celebrations coming in the next weeks. And we continue to plan ways to honor the accomplishments of students and staff virtually.

Today is National Decision Day. The day when our seniors announce their plans for after high school graduation. We will be sharing the stories of our seniors over the next upcoming weeks through our social media platforms and website.

I want to thank the over 7,000 students and family members who participated in the graduation survey. We will hold in-person graduation ceremonies later in the summer, if health and safety regulations allow. We will also continue to plan for a virtual ceremony which incorporates all portions of a traditional graduation ceremony to ensure that if we are unable to hold an in-person ceremony, each graduate still has a celebration to honor their accomplishments. As I previously communicated, the best-case scenario is that all our planning for a virtual ceremony is not needed and that we turn the content for a virtual ceremony into a video keepsake for each graduate and their families. I ask each graduate to engage in the virtual planning as it will create a memory for your entire graduating class.

Next week is also Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-8, 2020). Now more than ever our community…our society truly knows and recognizes the impact of great teachers. Our teachers are much more than ‘essential’… they continue to go above and beyond on a daily basis without seeking acknowledgment or award. I hope you will join me this week in expressing our unending gratitude for the continued devotion and enthusiasm our teachers demonstrate for your students. Please take a few moments and submit a teacher ‘shout-out’ here: https://survey.k12insight.com/r/Teacher2020.

While digital learning does not replace the relationships or experiences within our classrooms our teachers and everyone within Pinellas County Schools are here to support you and your student as their learning continues.

As a reminder, all information and resources are available on the district website which is updated on a regular basis at www.pcsb.org/coronavirus including specific pages for:
Digital learning resources for students and families, including frequently asked questions and updated how-to tutorials are available on our dedicated webpage for Digital Learning for Students and Families. Additional information regarding grading, testing, promotion/retention and summer bridge programming will be updated soon!
Meal distribution will continue to distribute free meals throughout the closure at 22 school sites. Distribution information is available at www.pcsb.org/foodlocations. If you are not able to go to one of the school sites, 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 the Pinellas County government website.

I also want all families to know that over the last two weeks, the district has convened a cross-functional planning team that includes medical professionals with expertise in infectious disease. We are doing this to ensure that as we plan for Summer 2020 and the 2020-21 school year we are guided by health professionals and grounded in best practices for safety, health and well-being. We will continue to share updates and planning for Summer 2020 and the 2020-21 school year in the upcoming weeks.

Pinellas County Schools remains committed to providing a high-quality education to our students. I am grateful for your continued support of our students, staff and community through during this time of digital learning. We are better together!

Sincerely,
Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Superintendent Pinellas County Schools