Dear Jacket family,
I want to share a few updates with you about our response to Covid-19 as we enter this first week of school closure.
Meals 2 Go
The Starkville Oktibbeha School District will begin offering FREE Meals 2 Go to children 0-18 on Tuesday, March 17.
The District’s meal service will be distributed from three school sites: Sudduth Elementary, Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary and Starkville High School from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm weekdays. Drive-up and walk-up service available at each school site in the bus lane located next to the cafeteria.
Each meal will include lunch and breakfast, including two milk servings. Lunches are intended to be eaten immediately or should be stored in the refrigerator within 2 hours. Please discard any leftovers within 3 days. Hot foods should be kept hot (entrees >135 degrees) and cold foods (milk & cheese < 41 degrees) kept cold.
All meals are FREE to children ages 0-18. Children do NOT have to be students in the Starkville Oktibbeha School District to participate. However, children must be physically present to receive a meal. Adults who are chaperoning/transporting children to school sites may purchase a meal for $3.15 at school site. Cash only accepted.
Pending approval from the Mississippi Department of Education, the District will also offer meal delivery options to students who do not have transportation. Details will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
MDE Update on State Testing, Attendance and Graduation
Mississippi State Superintendent of Education Carey Wright has recommended to the State Board of Education that state and federal assessment and accountability requirements be suspended for the 2019-20 school year. The MDE will seek the maximum authority and waivers afforded by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and other federal agencies.
State and federal assessments included in this recommendation include:
Pre-K and Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (post-test)
Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) and MAAP-Alternate English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science - Grades 3-8 and High School
U.S. History
ACT for 11th graders
English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT)
In addition, if schools statewide need to close for an extended period of time, Dr. Wright will recommend that the SBE waive applicable policies regarding attendance, promotion and graduation.
The SBE is scheduled to meet virtually at 10 a.m. March 19. The public is asked to view the meeting via livestream at http://bit.ly/SBElive.
All MDE COVID-10 updates are posted online: www.mdek12.org/covid19.
MHSAA Suspends All Competition and Practices
Effective immediately, all MHSAA interscholastic sports and fine-arts activities competition and practice is suspended through March 29 and until further notice. This suspension applies whether or not a school is open or closed during this timeline.
This is a difficult time for all of us, and our student athletes and artists, along with their coaches and teachers, who were entering their spring seasons of competition are struggling. Your Jacket family lifts you up, and we look forward to your return in our classrooms and on our competition fields and performance stages. We'll be cheering for you!
For more information on this decision from MHSAA, their full announcement is posted here: https://www.misshsaa.com/2020/03/16/all-mhsaa-competition-and-practice-suspended-through-march-29/?fbclid=IwAR0KY_80UBUEO_mZOEr1mtVK7UOuTN5O6JqMCnS4zhd0ppGwefTP5Mepwv0
School Closure
It was an extremely difficult decision to close our schools, and the decision to close reflects the seriousness and severity of this health crisis. Please remember this is not an extended spring break. It is imperative that we practice and model key preventative measures. You can help keep our schools and community safe for everyone by sharing accurate information. All of our District messages and resources can be found at www.starkvillesd.com/covid19. This page will serve as an ongoing feed of SOSD response updates, event changes and closures, and resources.
Continued Learning During School Closures
Excellent classroom teachers are essential to our students’ success even when our schools are closed. While nothing can replace in-person classroom instruction, it is wonderful to see so many of our teachers and #Tweetchers sharing their love of teaching and learning as they think about how to engage their students through excellent learning experiences during this time.
Our plan for flexible, continued learning will be rooted in our commitment to equity and ensuring all students have an equal chance at success. Our goal is for our students to read, write, communicate and engage in continued learning experiences if schools remain closed for an extended period of time. Our curriculum team is working on a plan that will involve digital/online and paper/pencil resources. We’ll be sharing additional information in the coming days if it is becomes necessary for our schools to remain closed.
Volunteers
We are so appreciative to those of you who have offered to serve as volunteers wherever needed during this time. Your generous spirits bring us hope and joy and remind us what human kindness really means. We are so thankful for a wonderful school family who loves and supports each other. However, at this time, we are very mindful of the CDC’s emphasis on social distancing and limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people. If you have reached out, we’ve added your name and information to our volunteer database. If you would like to volunteer, email your name and contact informatin to our Parent and Community Liaison Amanda Tullos at atullos@starkvillesd.com. If there is a need, we will definitely call on you.
Thank You
I realize this is a lot of information, and yet, I’m sure many of you still have unanswered questions. I certainly do. We’ll continue to share information as more decisions are finalized as we move forward.
I just want to take a moment to thank those of you who have reached out to offer a kind word or a message of encouragement. One of the many strengths of our greater school community is our love for each other. Together, we will find our way through this.
Our entire Jacket family sends our love and support to all of our families and students, especially our seniors. We know this is not how you imagined your final semester of high school. You are loved SHS Class of 2020, and we will celebrate you and your achievements!
Take care of yourselves! Your Jacket family needs you to be healthy!
Best,
Eddie Peasant, Ed.D.
Superintendent