School updates community in response to COVID-19 epidemic

Lake Roosevelt Schools will continue to feed and teach students, just not in the school.

Following Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcment March 13 that schools statewide would close, the Grand Coulee Dam School District released a parent and community update Monday outlining how Lake Roosevelt Schools are being affected by the coronavirus response.

Superintendent Paul Turner noted that there were seven confirmed cases in Grant County.

“Our job will be to continue enhancing our position to help reduce the spread of this virus and hopefully keep it out of the Coulee,” he said.

School grounds are off limits to the public for personal use, the update states; however, a screening system will be in place for those who need to enter to the school for some reason. The only access will be through the elementary office entrance, where a screening protocol will be in place.

“We ask that you work with us and adhere to these precautions,” Turner said.

“The use of school facilities for personal use is prohibited,” the update states. “This includes all organized use of all gyms, fields and weight rooms. It will not matter whether you are by yourself or not. I’m asking everyone to please help pass this information along and help us enforce this directive.”

The school also plans to continue teaching in some capacity, beginning next Tuesday, March 24.

“Expect some contact throughout this week,” the update tells parents and students. “This will be a new way of serving the academic needs of our students, so please partner with us as we roll into this new paradigm.”

Junior/Senior High School Principal Kirk Marshlain said he is working in collaboration with the elementary side in sorting out the details of what teaching remotely will look like.

Elementary Principal Lisa Lakin said that the coursework will not be online. Whatever coursework they offer will have to be equitable towards all students, many of whom don’t have internet access at home, she explained.

She told The Star Tuesday they plan on putting work packets together for students but that they “are still working on the details and logistics.”

Seniors are still expected to meet graduation requirements according to the state, and individuals will be contacted on the matter, the update says.

A graduation ceremony is still expected, unless the state makes additional changes.

The school year will be extended from June 11 to June 19.

Per the directive of the governor, daycare will be offered for children of parents who work in the medical and emergency fields. The school will reach out to such parents of whom they’re aware, the update says, but those parents should contact the school if they’re not contacted and daycare is needed so they can do their jobs.

School to continue feeding students

A March 17 update confirmed that LR will continue to feed students beginning on Friday, March 20, including all children up to 18 years of age, but not at school.

Meals will be prepared and shipped out to the students’ regular bus stops via bus two hours later than their normal pickup time. So if a student normally catches the bus at 7:15 a.m., the student and parent or guardian should be at the bus stop at 9:15 a.m. to collect the meal. And the student must be present.

Additional distribution of meals will take place from noon to 1 p.m. at the following locations: Tillman’s in Elmer City, Grand Coulee Dam Middle School, and City Hall in Electric City.

Grab-and-Go meals will also be offered at Lake Roosevelt School in the morning from 9 to 9:30 a.m., and from noon to 1 p.m.

Breakfast and lunch will be served in the same bag, so you will only need to meet the bus, or come to the school, once each day. Children must be present to receive these meals.

For students who live in the Nespelem area, Nespelem School District will provide Grab and Go meals available from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the following locations: White Buffalo, New HUD, Old HUD, and City Park.