I have gathered information from many sources, heard from many of you, and paid attention to the messages, mistakes, and lessons coming from China, Italy, and France. Everything points to a closure sooner rather than later. I believe things will get worse before they get better, and I believe we will need an extended closure. If by some miracle we can return sooner, then I will adjust course.

I know that many of you have been waiting for this decision for at least a week, and I appreciate your patience. It is not an easy one to come to when the Maine CDC is not recommending school closures. It is also not an easy one to come to knowing that the decision comes with its own set of other hardships for people in our community.

We care very much about the impact of a school closing on our community and want to work together to find creative ways to support the community at large. We will be reaching out to organize efforts with community partners. For example, we know it is vitally important that health care workers are able to work rather than stay home with children when they are needed most at the hospital or other care facility. I know that we as a community can come together and make sure that we all pitch in to help the community as a whole take care of our collective needs. We are going to need tech savvy community organizers to surface and help pave the way in helping define solutions. I know we have a force of close to 400 college students unexpectedly home all spring. How can we mobilize them to help in this time of need – I know they’d be willing.

Monday, March 16, will not be a school day for students at all. Instead, staff and administration will make sure all of our ducks are in a row as we finalize preparations for an extended remote learning experience. We want to provide students with quality learning opportunities, despite the new normal. We are in the fortunate position to have already conducted Remote School Days, so we are well ahead of the curve in our preparation. Students should be ready to begin remote learning on Tuesday morning, and families should expect additional details Monday evening or Tuesday morning.

We plan to send parents an Extended Remote School Handbook that will outline expectations and answer questions in the coming days. To summarize our plan for you here, the middle and high school will be doing electronic learning using 1:1 devices and students will follow their daily schedule, although it will be condensed (from 9:30 – 2:20). Continuing school will be more difficult for K-4 students because of their ages, and we are going to be realistic and flexible in our expectations. Again, details will be forthcoming. During the remote learning time, all teachers will have daily online office hours from about 2:20 – 3:00pm, and the school building will likely remain open. Communication with teachers, with the office, or with a passing bus driver will be available to everyone.

We are gathering information from families about lunch delivery, which we plan to offer for free to any student who is interested. We will conduct regular bus runs delivering meals every day. The intention will be to have weekly sign-ups, either online or by calling, but we will let you know how that will work in the next couple of days. We will also continue providing mental health services. Our counselors and social workers will continue supporting students remotely or potentially during at home visits. We will work that out as we go.

The district is willing to think creatively and openly with families about how this is going to work and how to overcome obstacles you might encounter. We won’t be able to solve every problem, but we are willing to think outside the box with you. The school building won’t be closed, at least for now, so you will be able to come in for a meeting if needed or to drop something off or pick something up. Communication will be key, and we ask that you reach out if need be. We also ask that your children continue social distancing guidelines. It is counterproductive to a school closure if large groups of students are gathering for play dates or parties. Keep groups small. Continue handwashing. Adhere to travel guidelines. Please. Our community depends on you, too.

We understand that students may need to get things from school – something they left in a locker, a band instrument, books, or an ipad. That is fine. Students and/or their parents can come to school anytime during normal hours and get what is needed over the next week. If a family cannot make it to school, we will have a bus drop it off. Just call the school if you need us to bring something to you.

Although this is likely to be an incredibly difficult time for our community, state, nation, and world, I think it is also important to recognize and take advantage of the silver linings it will afford our harried society. Everything is going to slow down. Enjoy that. Enjoy having weekends at home with your children. Have family dinners every night. Have your children go outside more. Let them have unstructured time. Allow their boredom to transform into creativity and self-reliance. Teach them to cook. Have long overdue conversations with them. Teach them how to make lemonade out of life’s lemons.

Great articles about parenting through this time:

Schools are Closing for Coronavirus, Now What
How Working Parents Can Prepare for the Coronavirus

I have no doubt this time in our history will one of those, “Where were you when...” events. No professional sports, no concerts, no traditional schooling. In our children’s lives, this moment in time will have a truly profound impact. They will remember it forever. I hope they remember it as a time when their lives slowed down in a way that was refreshing and joyous. A time when their small mid-coast community came together in an amazing way for the common good. Yes, there will be hardship, but let us show our children that the most difficult times in our history can also bring out the best in humanity.