KCS Coronavirus Updates/School Re-Entry

Coronavirus/Re-Entry Updates
Posted on 03/16/2020
Covid 19

If parents or community members have questions, please first know that our main Board Office line is still open at 304-348-7770 and schools are receiving calls as well. If you have trouble getting through via those methods, you can also e-mail [email protected] at any time and we’ll make sure that your question gets answered.

8-25-20

Please follow our Daily Updates under the Re-Entry 2020 tab -- https://kcs.kana.k12.wv.us/re-_entry_2020/daily_updates

8-3-20

The KCS Re-Entry plans are available now through our Re-Entry 2020 page.

https://kcs.kana.k12.wv.us/re-_entry_2020

Please review the plan pages and then select "Parent Selection Process" for details on how to select an option for your student. This online enrollment for Fall will be available through August 11th. 

7-8-20

Today, Governor Justice announced that there will be a target date of September 8, 2020 for school reopening in West Virginia in order to best protect our students and staff, and continue to form plans for our re-entry. (KCS 200-day employees: please note that we will communicate additional information for staff as soon as we can.)
In addition, this morning, the WV Department of Education released additional guidance for school districts as we develop plans for re-entry. You can find that guidance at: https://wvde.us/school-system-re-entry/.
Kanawha County Schools has been developing plans and will continue to develop plans under this guidance, but we know that our situation with the COVID-19 virus is fluid. We are working as quickly as possible to get information to you. Like districts across WV and the nation, our goal is to have students back in school, but we are working on plans for every scenario.
Thank you to all of those who filled out the online community input form related to re-entry. These opinions and ideas are very helpful during this time. In addition, the WVDE will send us submissions from Kanawha County to their state re-entry surveys.
We hear your voices and we are working as quickly as possible to release additional details so that you can plan for the new school year. Our goal at this time is to provide details for our KCS community in the next two weeks.
Thank you again for your vital input during this time.

6-15-20

Graduation 2020 Schedule

All 2020 graduations will be voluntary and will be held at Laidley Field on the schedule below. Please observe the following when attending KCS 2020 graduation events:

·       KCS strongly encourages all attendees to wear masks.

·       Please observe proper social distancing at all times, utilizing the entire south side of the bleachers.

·       We encourage only immediate family members attend.

·       We strongly encourage no gathering on Laidley Field property before or after ceremonies.

These events will continue unless there are extreme weather conditions (lightning, high winds, tornado warning). The ceremonies will go on through rain. (Saturday, June 27, will be the make-up date in the case of extreme weather).

WCHS-TV and FOX11 will stream the graduations live on STIRR, the Eyewitness News App and at wchstv.com.   

Date

School

Time

Tuesday, June 23

Herbert Hoover High School

10 a.m.

 

Capital High School

7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24

George Washington High School

10 a.m.

 

St. Albans High School

7:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 25

Sissonville High School

10 a.m.

 

Riverside High School

7 p.m.

Friday, June 26

Nitro High School

10 a.m.

 

South Charleston High School

7 p.m.

Saturday, June 27

Make-up Date (if needed)

 


6-10-20

*KCS Graduation Update*

Today, the WV Department of Education and the Governor’s Office announced that high schools would be able to host outdoor graduation ceremonies. Given that announcement, the KCS Board today authorized all high schools to hold outdoor graduations in accordance with provided guidance (see below). The KCS Board Office will support schools as they plan events in accordance with health guidelines. More information about ceremonies will come from each high school. Please be patient with each school as plans are developed.

WVDE Outdoor Graduation Guidance

5-23-20

This is a message from Kanawha County Schools with an update on Monday’s 5-day boxed feeding program. This will be the last 5-day delivery of the school year. This week, all areas will be delivered on Tuesday, May 26th. Everyone except Sissonville will be delivered beginning at 10:30 a.m. Sissonville will be delivered beginning at 1 p.m., also on Tuesday the 26th.

This week we’ll be distributing a half gallon of milk with each box. If you are picking up multiple boxes, you may want to also bring something to help carry the milk.

Families will still need to provide a lunch number/student ID for each meal box.

If you are a walker and do not have a bus stop or if you're trying to find out what time the bus will be there, you can talk to a neighbor, click “School and Bus Information” and input your address or call your bus garage or the main transportation number to find the stop closest to you or where your children are staying. Bus terminal information click here. Or, main transportation number: 348-6616. 

5-16-20

This is a message from Kanawha County Schools with an update on Monday’s 5-day boxed feeding program. This week’s feeding program will continue on the same scheduled days as last week with both days’ buses leaving at 10:30 a.m.. All areas, except for Sissonville, will be delivered on Monday, May 18th. Sissonville meals will be delivered on Tuesday, May 19th.

This week we’ll be distributing a half gallon of milk with each box. If you are picking up multiple boxes, you may want to also bring something to help carry the milk.

Families will still need to provide a lunch number/student ID for each meal box.

If you are a walker and do not have a bus stop or if you're trying to find out what time the bus will be there, you can talk to a neighbor, click “School and Bus Information” and input your address or call your bus garage or the main transportation number to find the stop closest to you or where your children are staying. Bus terminal information click here. Or, main transportation number: 348-6616. 

5-11-20

This year is an iPad refresh year and plans for an iPad exchange were already in place prior to the pandemic situation. That means that all iPads for current 5-11th graders will need to be collected and a brand new iPad will be provided. We will be hosting drive-thru iPad exchanges at all feeder high schools between late May and mid June. We will provide specific dates, traffic flow maps, FAQs, and further instructions. Please pay attention to Schoology, our website, social media or our call-out system for additional information in the coming weeks.

Please note that 12th graders have received or will receive separate information from their school on turning in their iPad. If you have a 4th grader or lower who received an iPad from their school, you will receive instruction from your school on when and where to return the device.

5-9-20

This is a message from Kanawha County Schools with an update on Monday’s 5-day boxed feeding program. This week’s feeding program will continue on the same scheduled days as last week with both days’ buses leaving at 10:30 a.m.. All areas, except for Sissonville, will be delivered on Monday, May 11th. Sissonville meals will be delivered on Tuesday, May 12th.

This week we’ll be distributing a half gallon of milk with each box. If you are picking up multiple boxes, you may want to also bring something to help carry the milk. 

Families will still need to provide a lunch number/student ID for each meal box.

If you are a walker and do not have a bus stop or if you're trying to find out what time the bus will be there, you can talk to a neighbor, click “School and Bus Information” and input your address or call your bus garage or the main transportation number to find the stop closest to you or where your children are staying. Bus terminal information click here. Or, main transportation number: 348-6616. 

5-5-20

On Monday, May 4th, the State announced that families with children eligible for free or reduced price meals at schools that have closed due to a pandemic will receive a pre-loaded EBT card in the mail for every eligible child in an amount no less than the value of school lunch and breakfast. The cards can be used anywhere SNAP EBT is used. This is part of the Coronavirus Response Act and is funded through the USDA, like our normal breakfast and lunch program.

Because Kanawha County qualifies for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) through the USDA, every KCS family qualifies for this benefit and will receive this benefit automatically. However, we need to make sure that the address you have on file at your school is correct. You do not need to do anything proactively. Someone from your school – either a teacher or a school secretary or administrator – will be reaching out in the coming days to confirm your address on file. You can send any corrections to the person that reaches out. This is all you need to do.

Additional information and frequently asked questions/answers are available on the WV Department of Education’s website: https://wvde.us/covid19/wv-pebt/.

Kanawha County Schools will continue to deliver meals as it is now through the end of the school year. After the end of the school year, we will begin our summer feeding program at sites across the county. The P-EBT card mentioned above is in addition to these KCS services. We will release information about our summer feeding program soon.

5-2-20

May 4th Feeding Program

This week’s feeding program will continue on the same scheduled days as last week with both days’ buses leaving at 10:30. All areas, except for Sissonville, will be delivered on Monday, May 4th. Sissonville meals will be delivered on Tuesday, May 5th. 

Everything else will be the same as last week. 

There will be no milk delivered. Families will still need to provide a lunch number/student ID for each meal box.

If you are a walker and do not have a bus stop or if you're trying to find out what time the bus will be there, you can talk to a neighbor, click “School and Bus Information” and input your address or call your bus garage or the main transportation number to find the stop closest to you or where your children are staying. Bus terminal information click here. Or, main transportation number: 348-6616. 

5-1-20

KCS will offer virtual math and/or English for students in grades 3 - 5 over the summer. These courses are used in our existing virtual program and they are free for your use. Your child will receive a virtual teacher who will grade and assist your child with learning. Students can take pre-tests and focus on any skill not obtained at the current grade level they are in. Visit http://virtual.kana.k12.wv.us to register your child. Registration begins TODAY and courses begin on May 27th.

4-30-20

Does your student need a Driver Eligibility Certificate (DEC) for their learner’s permit or a driver’s license?

Now that schools are closed for the 2019-2020 school year, DECs are being processed at schools and at the county office. Parent/student requests for a DEC should be called into the student’s school or central office. An email request (information will be provided below) can be utilized as well. Once the DEC is verified, only one signature is required (no county stamp needed) and an issue date applied. The DEC will be valid until the first day of the 2020-2021 school year. The DEC will be mailed to you as a way of practicing safe social distancing.  Your school may have made other arrangements to receive student DECs (check with your school).

Contact your school or:

Eddie Ivy ([email protected])

Lead Attendance & Social Services Director

304 348-1343

4-27-20

UPDATE: If you need to complete an out-of-area transfer form or enroll a student for Kindergarten, please find information here: https://kcs.kana.k12.wv.us/Article/5747/kcs-out-of-area-online-transfer-request

4-23-20

We are in the process of moving both the 2020-2021 Kindergarten registration and out-of-area transfer request process online. If you need to register a Kindergarten student or submit an out-of-area transfer request, we will have additional guidance in the coming weeks.

As a reminder, the Preschool Office is accepting 2020-2021 Preschool enrollment forms now. Information can be found on the KCS website, through the PreK PSteps website or by emailing [email protected].wv.us.

4-22-20

Graduation: 

KCS high schools all have backup graduation dates between June 24-27. These dates and plans are all tentative and will be used only if social gatherings are permitted by the state, local officials and medical community. There are additional backup plans being made in the case that we should not gather at that time.

4-21-20

If you missed the opportunity to pick up a 5-day boxed meal kit this week, there will be a Ryder refrigerated truck delivering to several locations tomorrow. In order to receive a box, you must pick it up at the given location and provide your child or children’s lunch/student ID number. Parents from any part of the county can travel to these locations.

The refrigerated truck locations and times for tomorrow, April 22, are as follows:

East Bank Middle at 10 a.m.
Belle Elementary at 10:45 a.m.
Malden Elementary at 11:30 a.m.
Piedmont Elementary at 12:15 p.m.

This will be first come, first serve and the truck will stop running once meals have been distributed. Thank you.

4-18-20

April 20th Feeding Program

This week’s feeding program will continue on the same scheduled days as last week with both days’ buses leaving at 10:30. All areas, except for Sissonville, will be delivered on Monday, April 20th. Sissonville meals will be delivered on Tuesday, April 21st. 

Everything else will be the same as last week. 

There will be no milk delivered. Families will still need to provide a lunch number/student ID for each meal box.

If you are a walker and do not have a bus stop or if you're trying to find out what time the bus will be there, you can talk to a neighbor, click “School and Bus Information” and input your address or call your bus garage or the main transportation number to find the stop closest to you or where your children are staying. Bus terminal information click here. Or, main transportation number: 348-6616. 

4-17-20

Free Virtual Summer School & Credit Recovery

Both virtual summer school (for middle and high school) and credit recovery classes (high school only) will be offered for free this summer. Additional information is as follows:

Virtual Summer School (middle/high)

  • Students currently in original-credit courses and unable to finish by the end of the school year may continue until July 31, 2020, at no charge.
  • Registration for summer school will begin May 1, 2020.
  • All courses should be completed by July 31, 2020.

Credit Recovery (high school)

  • The WV Virtual School is offering free credit recovery for students who have failed credits.
  • For this year only, this is for students who were failing courses as of March 13, 2020.
  • Registration will begin on May 1, 2020.
  • Courses must be completed by July 31, 2020.

Additional information on how to register will be provided soon.

4-11-20

April 13th Feeding Program

For this week’s feeding program, we will continue with all areas, except for Sissonville, being delivered on Monday, April 13th. All Monday buses will leave at 11 am instead of 10:30, 30 minutes later than normal, due to predicted weather. Please add 30 minutes onto the time that you have been meeting the bus.

Sissonville meals will be delivered on Tuesday, April 14th and buses will leave at the normal 10:30 time.

There will be no milk delivered due to the inability to adequately refrigerate the amount of milk needed.

Families will still need to provide a lunch number/student ID for each meal box.

If you are a walker and do not have a bus stop or if you're trying to find out what time the bus will be there, you can talk to a neighbor, click “School and Bus Information” and input your address or call your bus garage or the main transportation number to find the stop closest to you or where your children are staying. Bus terminal information click here. Or, main transportation number: 348-6616. 

4-6-20

*Update for Capital-Area Families*

Due to the late arrival of one of the food trucks today, we will only service the King Center, City Park and South Park with boxed meals today. The rest of the Capital area will be serviced with Sissonville tomorrow. Everything will be the same, the delivery will just be tomorrow instead of today if you are outside of King Center, City Park or South Park.

4-4-20

As a follow up to our last message on Monday’s 5-day feeding program, we wanted to give you two updates.

First: the Sissonville area will receive their boxes on Tuesday. Buses will run their normal routes on what should be very close to the same schedule as last week. If you are outside of the Sissonville area, your boxed meals will still be delivered as usual along bus routes on Monday.

Second: milk will be provided outside of the prepared meal boxes. You may want to also bring a bag or other item to carry your milk.

All information, including what to do to find your closest bus stop and time, is available directly below in the 4-1-20 Update. 

4-1-20

For the 5-day meal delivery on Monday, April 6th, the county is switching to boxed meals through Compass Food Service. This will eliminate the preparation of meals by KCS staff and volunteers. These boxes will still include one breakfast and lunch per day and nothing will change for their delivery unless you are in the Sissonville area. If you are in the Sissonville area, your delivery may be on a different day than Monday. You will receive a separate message later this week with additional details on when your delivery will be made. If you are a parent outside of the Sissonville area, you will still show up at your bus stop on Monday for meal delivery as you have been. Buses will leave at the same time as they did this week. This plan is based on driver availability and is subject to change. We will let you know if there are changes.

The same reminders are being given as this week:

· If you are a walker or do not have a bus stop, you can talk to a neighbor, click “School and Bus Information” and input your address or call your bus garage or the main transportation number to find the stop closest to you or where your children are staying. Bus terminal information click here. Or, main transportation number: 348-6616. 

· On Monday, parents or students are asked to give a lunch number for each student receiving a meal. This is so we can make sure that as many students are served as possible.

· Please note that because we’re delivering more food, it’s taking longer at stops. 

· Also, because there will be five days worth of food, you may want to consider bringing a box, wagon, or extra set of arms when picking up the bagged meals.

3-26-20 Update

The statewide school closure due to COVID-19 has been extended until April 30th. That means that we will continue to implement our current online learning plan through at least April 30. Your school will be communicating next steps so please be sure to check in through whatever communication channels you’ve been using with your school.

We also have an update for Monday’s 5-day bagged meal service. Thank you for having patience as we work on our feeding program and do the very best we can.

· If you are a walker or do not have a bus stop, you can talk to a neighbor, click “School and Bus Information” and input your address or call your bus garage or the main transportation number to find the stop closest to you or where your children are staying. Bus terminal information click here. Or, main transportation number: 348-6616. 

· On Monday, parents or students are asked to give a lunch number for each student receiving a meal.

· Please note that because we’re delivering more food, it’s taking longer at stops. Your bus may be running 15-30 minutes longer than it has been on Monday.

· Also, because there will be five days worth of food, you may want to consider bringing a box, wagon, or extra set of arms when picking up the bagged meals.

Regrettably, KCS will be canceling all eight high school proms due to the COVID-19 outbreak in our community. Our proms had been scheduled to begin on April 18th. We are sorry to have to make this announcement. Thank you for your continued support and patience. 

3-23-20 Update

Kanawha County Schools will restart its feeding program and move to a model of one delivery day per week with multiple days worth of bagged meals being delivered. This week’s delivery day will be Wednesday, March 25, and we will distribute three days worth of meals (Wednesday-Friday) on Wednesday. All meals will be delivered on Wednesday at bus stops as we did last week. Beginning next week, bagged meals will be delivered every Monday with a five day supply being provided at bus stops. We will continue to provide details leading up to delivery days and we thank you for your patience as we work to see that our students are fed.

3-22-20 Update

During the first full week of our school outage due to COVID-19, Kanawha County Schools was proud to mobilize and be able to prepare and deliver thousands of bagged meals to our students. Due to current conditions and limitations brought by the spread of COVID-19, we are discontinuing bagged meal service. We value the health and safety of our employees and also of the volunteers who’ve been supporting us. We will investigate other ways to feed our students and will share additional plans as they are developed. For the time being, the feeding program will be halted and our support services as a district will continue through our counselors, social workers and other staff. If you have a need that is not being met during this time of school closure, please call your school, the district office or call 2-1-1 on your phone to reach The United Way help line. Thank you.

3-20-20 Update

Our schools have now distributed plans and materials for our students to complete curriculum from home. We want to make sure to remind you that you are not alone and your teachers and schools are available to help. If you have a question and cannot get through to a teacher, please call the school. Your school will be able to support you. 

If you do not have online access at home, please call your school or reach out to our technology team at 304-348-6116 or email [email protected]

Also, the KCS out-of-area transfer request process that was scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. on April 1st has been cancelled. We will send out additional information once there is a new process in place. This only applies to those parents who are requesting out-of-area transfers. 

3-15-20 COVID-19 Plan Update

Per an announcement by Governor Justice yesterday, all schools and programs, will remain closed until at least Friday, March 27. That will be the point when we re-evaluate and share additional information.

All extracurricular activities are canceled. This includes practices. 

Technology:

All teachers will post work for their students through Schoology, Remind, Class Dojo, or whatever communication method they use to contact parents. This is mandatory. Work and resources will be available to students no later than Thursday, March 19. 

Elementary principals will be at their schools on Monday from 8am-12pm for parents to pick up 4th and 5th grade iPads only. 

If your middle and high school student is currently without an iPad and they do not have another technology item to work from, please call the technology department at 304-348-6116 and make arrangements to pick up the device.  Due to the time it takes to set one up, we ask that you do not show up without calling first.  We will get it set up ahead of time so that you can just stop in and pick it up.

If you do not have access to Schoology, please call the technology department at 304-348-6116 or email [email protected]

Food: 

We have updated our feeding program. Some bagged meals will be available at every KCS school. In addition, bagged meals will be delivered at our normal bus stops along each school bus run. Buses will leave each feeder high school at 10:30 a.m. and start their normal run. All you need to do is wait at your child’s bus stop for a meal to be delivered. To get an approximate time for drop off on Monday, you can call your bus garage or the main transportation office for bus times, or it will be 4 hours later than the elementary bus stop times. 

For times, call:

Main Transportation Office - 304-348-6616

East Bank Bus Terminal - 304-949-4714

Elkview Bus Terminal - 304-348-1991

St. Albans Bus Terminal - 304-722-0236

Sissonville Bus Terminal - 304-348-1963

South Charleston Bus Terminal - 304-766-0373

To confirm which school falls under each terminal, go here

Staff:

Essential staff should report to work tomorrow, Monday, March 16. For Kanawha County Schools essential staff includes Central Office staff, principals and assistant principals, social workers, counselors, nurses, school secretaries, maintenance, technology staff and technicians, custodial staff, food service staff, and transportation staff. These staff are essential to making sure that our students are fed, that essential student supports are offered, and that learning continuity plans continue to be developed. Principals will keep in contact with teachers Monday-Wednesday to provide support as they develop their lessons for Thursday.  

On Thursday and Friday of this week, all staff should report and teachers and staff will begin supporting student learning through technology. All IEPs must be followed during this time.

UPDATED 3-16-20 -- Effective Tuesday, March 17, adult programs at Garnet Career Center, Ben Franklin Career Center and Carver Career Center will be closed. Students will receive additional guidance from instructors. Staff will receive additional guidance from supervisors. 

Additional guidance can be found through a staff e-mail.  

KCS Coronavirus (COVID-19) Plan for Schools

Brenda Isaac RN, Lead School Nurse

304-348-6694, Ext. 341

This is a fluid plan and may be updated based on the latest information from health officials 

  1. Kanawha County Schools Health Services is in frequent contact with the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. KCHD is working collaboratively with WV Bureau for Public Health’s Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services and the Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology.  Their information is updated daily from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  2. There are several different types of coronaviruses, some of which have been around for years. These are referred to as the Common Coronaviruses and usually cause symptoms similar to the common cold.  Many of us have had common coronaviruses in the past and assumed we had the common cold, treated it as such, and recovered in a week or two.
  3. The Coronavirus that started in China in December is referred to as the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Working closely with KCHD, this is currently our plan for dealing with COVID-19 should it reach the West Virginia area. 

  1. We will use the same precautions that we have used for the regular flu and other virus protection. Regular cleaning and disinfecting of desks, computer keyboards, door knobs, water fountains and other frequently touched surfaces within the schools.
  2. Thorough handwashing for at least 20 seconds before meals, after using the restrooms and whenever hands are visibly dirty.
  3. Educating students (and staff) to avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
  4. Cough Etiquette. Always cover cough or sneeze, with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and thoroughly wash your hands immediately. If tissues aren’t available, cough into the inside of the elbow.
  5. Hand sanitizer, with 60%-90% alcohol, may be used only when soap and water is not available.
  6. Avoid close contact with people who are sick with flu-like symptoms. Those who display these symptoms should go home and remain home until all symptoms are gone for at least 24 hours.
  7. If a student or school employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, they must stay home for the recommended 14-day period that they are considered to be contagious. The suspected case should be immediately reported to the school nurse or the KCS Office of Health Services. The diagnosis will be confirmed with KCHD. COVID-19 is an immediately reportable disease.
  8. If there is a positive diagnosis, parents will need to call the school. Parents will also have to provide documentation when the student is cleared to return.
  9. School administrators will work with local health officials to make dismissal and cancellation decisions. These dismissals will be made on a case-by-case basic based on the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and the specific cases in the impacted community. In the case of a school dismissal, all extra-curricular activities for that school will be cancelled if a school is closed. If a virtual student's school is dismissed, then they will not be permitted to attend the lab during this time frame.
  10. Teachers will post work for students on Schoology for all grades. Students can use their iPads to access Schoology and their work to be completed. Fourth and fifth graders will be permitted to take their iPads home. In addition, students in K-3 can get their work through the normal methods their individual teachers use to communicate if the teacher is not using Schoology.
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