March 25, 2020
Dear Chickasha Public School family:
Today, we learned that Oklahoma students will not return to the classroom for the remainder of the current school year, following a vote by the state Board of Education. Instead, districts, including CPS, will implement continuous learning plans that will allow students to complete the school year at home. State education and health officials believe this move will help our state fight the spread of COVID-19.
We are sharing this information with you now so you can prepare accordingly for your family. We understand this change is in the best interest of everyone’s health, which is our greatest priority as a district. The state board’s vote also means that all extracurricular activities and special events will be canceled or postponed as well. Making these difficult decisions, we believe, is simply the right thing to do for our students, our staff and our community.
We do have good news: CPS is developing a plan to ensure your child will continue to have opportunities to learn and to grow academically, especially with parental support. Because we are unable to safely gather together, these lessons and activities will be developed and communicated in the coming days. As you can imagine, this is a significant transition for our students and our teachers. CPS will spend the next week planning for this effort and will share details with your family as soon as they are available.
For students, it likely will be sad and disappointing to receive confirmation that school as they know it will not resume this year. Please give them a safe place to express their feelings and to vent about the changes in their life. For our seniors and their parents, we know it is an especially difficult time. We will do everything possible to ensure their efforts are recognized and celebrated in special and unique ways. This is an unfair situation, but please reassure them that it does not diminish their achievements. In fact, it will become one more example of how they demonstrated their strength as a Fightin’ Chick.
We have posted numerous resources on our website, including information about free breakfasts and lunches for students under the age of 18, which will continue, as well as answers to frequently asked questions regarding the school closure. You can find these details and more by visiting www.chickasha.k12.ok.us. Remember, we need everyone to do what the CDC has recommended to protect your health: wash your hands; stay at home, if you can; and practice social distancing.
This is an unprecedented situation, and it has required an unprecedented response. We can still take care of Chickasha’s students, though. This is a community that sticks together in challenging times, and we know this experience will be no different. As soon as we identify our next steps, we will share them with you.
Please stay safe. As always, we appreciate your support of Chickasha Public Schools.
Sincerely,
Rick Croslin
Superintendent
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding COVID-19
March 27, 2020
When will classes resume?
Unfortunately, classes will not resume this school year. The Oklahoma State School Board voted on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 to cancel all on-campus instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
What is a distance learning and when will it begin?
Distance learning is any method of learning that happens outside of the traditional school building. The approach to distance learning will be different from school to school and district to district because student and staff access to technology and training will be different.
When will we receive information about distance learning?
CPS is working to develop a distance learning plan that best serves our students and will be submitting it to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for approval. We are hoping to have approval and ability to roll out the distance learning plan the week of April 6, 2020. Information will be provided on our websites (district and each school site), social media, local communication resources, by calling the district administration building, and any other way we can send out information.
Can we check out a Chromebook for our student to use for the distance learning plan during the remainder of the school year?
Student will be able to check-out a Chromebook, if needed, for the rest of this school year at home. Each school will be calling all enrolled students the week of March 30, 2020 to conduct a short technology survey for the distance learning plan we are developing. During that phone call (survey), parents will be able to determine if their student will need a Chromebook. A time will be scheduled for parents to come to school sites and check out Chromebooks on a limited basis. Note: A device check-out form must be completed, signed, and kept on file at your student’s school to check-out a device.
We do not have internet service in our home, how can we still participate in the distance learning plan?
Yes. We understand that internet service is difficult to acquire in certain areas of the school community. During the phone call (survey) we will ask if you have access to a site with internet. Depending on your answers, we will help you determine the best method to offer learning services to your student. Educational packets will be available to students and will have materials that are equivalent to online resources.
Will the school be open at all for the remainder of the school year?
School buildings will be open on a limited basis on Tuesday & Thursday’s beginning Tuesday, April 7, 2020 thru Thursday, April 17, 2020. Building hours will be 8:00am – 2:30pm both days. The purpose for the limited opening is to provide related services to students with an IEP, offer services to English Language students, for teachers to monitor student progress on the distance learning plan, and to communicate with parents as needed. Buildings will NOT be open to the public. Parents & students will be allowed in by appointment only. During this time period we are working to adhere to Gov. Stitt’s and CDC policies regarding social interactions.
I have a student that has an IEP and is supposed to receive services such as speech, physical therapy, etc. How will these services be provided for the remainder of the school year?
Special education staff members will be contacting parents of students with an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) to schedule times for them to receive related services. These services will be provided on a limited basis and by appointment only at your student’s home school site.
Will the student meal program continue for the remainder of the school year?
Yes, the student meal program will continue through May 15, 2020. Beginning next week, March 30, 2020, CPS will only provide meals on Monday – Thursday. On Thursday’s, students will be able to pick-up meals for Friday. Pick-up times at school sites and route delivery times will remain the same. We are proud to report that we are serving over 750 meals daily to students.
Will there be any extracurricular activities during the rest of this school year?
Unfortunately the answer is no. When the Oklahoma State Department met on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 they included cancellation of all extracurricular activities for the remainder of this school year. This means that events including prom, senior awards, banquets, rehearsals, games, etc. were all canceled.
Will we have graduation?
CPS is still planning on having graduation for the Class of 2020. Due to recent events it will not be held on May 15, 2020 as originally planned. At this time, we cannot tell you exactly when, where, how, what, etc. about graduation. We are brainstorming ideas. Please know, we are committed to having a graduation ceremony of some fashion that will be memorable and special for this graduating class. They have earned this event and we want it to happen for them. So, stay tuned!
What about athletic programs? Will there be any games? Practice?
So, unfortunately the answer is no again. All athletic events, programs, tournaments, practices, travel, etc. has been cancelled until the CDC, state, and local officials make recommendations for safe participation. With that said, no student may practice for any sport at any CPS facility during this time.
Will my student get a report card from this semester?
Yes. Report cards for 3rd quarter will be available by Wednesday, April 8, 2020. We will also have report cards for 2nd semester available after May 22, 2020. Report cards can either be picked up at school sites on Tuesday’s or Thursday’s or they can be mailed home.
How can we get my student’s personal belongings that are still at school?
Each site will be arranging times for students to get their personal belongings. At this time, we are not permitting this due to the restrictions that have been placed on gatherings and the “Safer at Home” executive order. Information will be sent out to all students and parents when we will be able to have people in the buildings to get personal items.
My student has medication at school. How can we go about picking it up?
All medication has been moved over to the district administration building. Building days & hours beginning the week of March 30, 2020 will be Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday from 8:00am – 4:30pm. Please call or come up to the offices to pick up any medications that had been left at school during one of these days.
March 21, 2020
Are you still planning to serve meals beginning on Monday, March 23, 2020?
Yes, we are still planning on serving meals to students on Monday – Friday of each week of the shutdown. Here are the details:
Beginning Monday, March 23, 2020 thru Friday, April 3, 2020 (Monday – Friday)
Has there been an update on state testing since the last update?
Yes. The federal government has decided to enforce federal mandated testing requirements for the 2019-2020 school year. The Oklahoma State Department of Education had filed a waiver asking for relief from all state testing this year on Thursday. They received notice late Friday, March 20, 2020 that the waiver had been granted.
What about the Oklahoma School Report Cards?
The waiver request from OSDE also included Oklahoma School Report Cards for the 2019-2020. There will not be a report card for this school year for any school.
Extra-Curricular Activities, Athletics, & Events
Per the mandate from the Oklahoma State Department of Education, all facilities for Chickasha Public Schools will be closed for all events which include practices, rehearsals, competitions, professional development, and to all outside groups.
Will we have special education services during this time?
Based on recent guidance from state and federal officials, the district will not be providing educational services to students during the operational shut-down. Once school is back in session, the IEP team may need to reconvene to develop plans based on the individual needs of students as well as from guidance from state and federal officials. In the event you have an IEP or related meeting scheduled for a date/time during the shutdown, staff members will reach out to reschedule the meeting.
