Superintendent Message to Families
6 p.m.

Dear Pinellas County Schools Families, 

I hope this message finds you well as we begin our seventh week of digital learning.  I know it is that time of year when we all get excited for the school year to end.  And while this school year is ending differently than most, I am excited to announce details of our Summer Bridge 2020 program. In order to be in compliance with state and local guidance from health officials, this June and July our Summer Bridge program will be virtual and available to any student. I especially encourage parents to enroll their child if they are concerned about learning loss the last two months or over the summer. 

We are excited about the design of Summer Bridge with our goal for students to continue their learning and progress within their grade level standards. In middle and high school grades, the programs are built around specific courses to prepare students for the next grade level or for the July ACT test.  

In elementary grades, each week is built around a theme and also includes a virtual field trip. Students will participate in a live-lesson each morning and then meet with a teacher virtually in a small group to review the material and get direct instruction and support. Two days a week will focus on English and Reading while the other two days will focus on mathematics. Students can expect about two hours of direct instruction each day.   

In order to continue to support this digital Summer Bridge programming, students will be able to continue to utilize the computers provided by the district. If your student needs a computer, please reach out to your school and we will work with you to issue your student a device to utilize over the summer.   

I think you will find all of our programs will provide a good balance between direct instruction and student interaction without too much screen time.  Summer Bridge registration is now open, so visit our webpage www.pcsb.org/summerbridge for more information.   

In addition to Summer Bridge, we are also offering a number of one-week virtual summer camps including opportunities for STEM, the Arts, gifted and more.  Be sure to also check out the Summer Camps webpage www.pcsb.org/summercamps.

Thank you for your continued support.  As a district we continue to make all decisions with the health, safety and wellbeing of our students, families, staff and community in mind. We look forward to returning to face-to-face instruction with our students, but until then, I hope you engage in our newly designed virtual Summer Bridge programs. 

Sincerely,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Superintendent Pinellas County Schools

 

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En Español

Familias de Pinellas County Schools,

Espero que al recibir este mensaje se encuentre bien, a medida que comenzamos nuestra séptima semana de aprendizaje digital. Sé que este es el tiempo del año cuando todos nos entusiasmamos para que termine el curso escolar. Y si bien este curso escolar está por terminar de una manera diferente a la mayoría, estoy emocionado de anunciar los detalles de nuestro programa Summer Bridge 2020. Con el fin de cumplir con el estado y lo orientado por las autoridades de salud locales, este mes de junio y julio nuestro programa Summer Bridge será a distancia y disponible a cualquier estudiante. Especialmente le recomiendo a los padres inscribir a sus hijos si les preocupa la pérdida de aprendizaje en los últimos dos meses o durante los meses de verano.

Estamos entusiasmados por el diseño del Summer Bridge, siendo nuestra meta que los estudiantes continúen su aprendizaje y progreso dentro de los estándares del nivel para el grado. En la escuela intermedia y secundaria, los programas se fundan en cursos específicos que preparan a los estudiantes para el próximo nivel de grado o para el examen ACT de julio.

En la escuela primaria, cada semana se construye alrededor de un tema y también incluye una excursión virtual. Los estudiantes participarán en una lección en vivo todas las mañanas y luego se reunirán virtualmente con un maestro en un grupo pequeño para revisar el material y obtener instrucción y apoyo directos. Dos días a la semana se enfocarán en inglés y lectura, mientras que los otros dos días se enfocarán en matemáticas. Los estudiantes pueden esperar alrededor de dos horas de instrucción directa al día.

Para continuar apoyando esta programación digital del Summer Bridge, los estudiantes podrán seguir utilizando las computadoras provistas por el distrito. Si su estudiante necesita una computadora, por favor comuníquese a su escuela y trabajaremos con usted para entregarle a su estudiante un dispositivo que pueda utilizar durante el verano.

Considero que usted encontrará que todos nuestros programas proporcionarán un buen equilibrio entre la instrucción directa y la interacción de los estudiantes, sin demasiado tiempo frente a la pantalla. La matrícula para el Summer Bridge ya está abierta, por lo tanto, visite nuestra página web www.pcsb.org/summerbridge para obtener más información.   

Además del Summer Bridge, también estamos ofreciendo una serie de campamentos de verano virtuales de una semana que incluyen oportunidades para STEM, las artes, gifted y más. Asegúrese de también visitar nuestra página dedicada a los campamentos de verano www.pcsb.org/summercamps.

Gracias por su continuo apoyo.  Como distrito, continuamos tomando todas las decisiones teniendo en cuenta la salud, la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros estudiantes, familias, personal y comunidad. Esperamos volver a las clases en persona con nuestros estudiantes, pero por el momento, espero que participe en nuestros nuevos recién diseñado programa del Summer Bridge virtual. 

 

Atentamente,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Superintendente Pinellas County Schools

 

Superintendent Message to Families
6 p.m.

Pinellas County Schools Families,

As we close out our fifth week of digital learning, I want to continue to express my gratitude and appreciation for the support you continue to provide your students. My hope is that the last four weeks of the 2019-20 school year is filled with lessons and experiences that are creative, innovative and unlock the curiosity and love of learning within every student.

As a district we have a number of celebrations coming in the next weeks. And we continue to plan ways to honor the accomplishments of students and staff virtually.

Today is National Decision Day. The day when our seniors announce their plans for after high school graduation. We will be sharing the stories of our seniors over the next upcoming weeks through our social media platforms and website. I want to thank the over 7,000 students and family members who participated in the graduation survey.  We will hold in-person graduation ceremonies later in the summer, if health and safety regulations allow. We will also continue to plan for a virtual ceremony which incorporates all portions of a traditional graduation ceremony to ensure that if we are unable to hold an in-person ceremony, each graduate still has a celebration to honor their accomplishments. As I previously communicated, the best-case scenario is that all our planning for a virtual ceremony is not needed and that we turn the content for a virtual ceremony into a video keepsake for each graduate and their families. I ask each graduate to engage in the virtual planning as it will create a memory for your entire graduating class.

Next week is also Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-8, 2020). Now more than ever our community…our society truly knows and recognizes the impact of great teachers. Our teachers are much more than ‘essential’… they continue to go above and beyond on a daily basis without seeking acknowledgment or award. I hope you will join me this week in expressing our unending gratitude for the continued devotion and enthusiasm our teachers demonstrate for your students. Please take a few moments and submit a teacher ‘shout-out’ . 

While digital learning does not replace the relationships or experiences within our classrooms our teachers and everyone within Pinellas County Schools are here to support you and your student as their learning continues.

As a reminder, all information and resources are available on the district website which is updated on a regular basis at www.pcsb.org/coronavirus including specific pages for:

• Digital learning resources for students and families, including frequently asked questions and updated how-to tutorials are available on our dedicated webpage for Digital Learning for Students and Families. Additional information regarding grading, testing, promotion/retention and summer bridge programming will be updated soon!
• Meal distribution will continue to distribute free meals throughout the closure at 22 school sites. Distribution information is available at www.pcsb.org/foodlocations. If you are not able to go to one of the school sites, other local food providers throughout the county are offering free, nutritious meals for our students. A complete list of sites throughout our community can be found at the Pinellas County government website. 

 

I also want all families to know that over the last two weeks, the district has convened a cross-functional planning team that includes medical professionals with expertise in infectious disease.  We are doing this to ensure that as we plan for Summer 2020 and the 2020-21 school year we are guided by health professionals and grounded in best practices for safety, health and well-being. We will continue to share updates and planning for Summer 2020 and the 2020-21 school year in the upcoming weeks. 

Pinellas County Schools remains committed to providing a high-quality education to our students. I am grateful for your continued support of our students, staff and community during this time of digital learning. We are better together!

Sincerely,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Superintendent Pinellas County Schools

 

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SPANISH

Familias de Pinellas County Schools.

A medida que concluimos nuestra quinta semana de aprendizaje digital, deseo expresar una vez más mi gratitud y aprecio por el apoyo que continúan brindando a sus estudiantes. Mi esperanza es que las últimas cuatro semanas del curso escolar 2019-20 estén llenas de enseñanza y experiencias que sean creativas, innovadoras y que liberen la curiosidad y el amor por el aprendizaje dentro de cada uno de los estudiantes.

Como distrito, en las próximas semanas tenemos varias celebraciones. Y seguimos planificando formas de elogiar virtualmente los logros de los estudiantes y el personal.

Hoy es el día nacional de la decisión. El día en que nuestros estudiantes de último año, en la clase de 2020, anuncian sus planes para después de la graduación de la escuela secundaria. Durante las próximas semanas, iremos compartiendo las historias de nuestros estudiantes de último año, así que asegúrese de revisar nuestras redes sociales para que pueda apoyar a nuestra clase que se gradúa este curso. Quiero agradecer a los más de 7,000 estudiantes y miembros de la familia que participaron en nuestra encuesta sobre la graduación.  Llevaremos a cabo ceremonias de graduación en persona más adelante en el verano, si las regulaciones de salud y seguridad así lo permiten. También continuamos con la planificación de una ceremonia virtual que incorpore todas las partes de una ceremonia tradicional de graduación, para de esta forma asegurarnos de que, si no podemos llevar a cabo una ceremonia en persona, cada graduado todavía tenga una celebración donde elogiar sus logros. Como les comuniqué anteriormente, el mejor de los casos es que toda nuestra planificación para una ceremonia virtual no sea necesaria, y que podamos convertir el contenido de una ceremonia virtual en un video de recuerdo para cada graduado y sus familias. Le pido a cada graduado que participe en la planificación virtual, esto creará un recuerdo para toda su clase de graduación. 

La próxima semana es también la Semana de Apreciación al Maestro. (4-8 de mayo, 2020). Ahora más que nunca nuestra comunidad ... nuestra sociedad verdaderamente conoce y celebra el impacto de los buenos maestros. Nuestros maestros son mucho más que "esenciales" ... ellos continúan diariamente yendo más allá sin buscar reconocimiento o premio. Espero me acompañe esta semana en expresar nuestra infinita gratitud por la continua devoción y entusiasmo que nuestros maestros demuestran por sus alumnos. Por favor tome un momento para enviar aquí un mensaje de agradecimiento. https://survey.k12insight.com/r/Teacher2020

Si bien el aprendizaje digital no reemplaza las relaciones o experiencias dentro de nuestros salones de clases, nuestros maestros y todos en Pinellas County Schools estamos aquí para apoyarlo a usted y a su estudiante a medida que seguimos adelante con el aprendizaje.

A modo de recordatorio, toda la información y los recursos están disponibles en el sitio web del distrito, el cual es actualizadoperiódicamente www.pcsb.org/coronavirus, incluyendo las páginas específicas de:

• Recursos de aprendizaje digital para estudiantes y familias, incluyendo las preguntas frecuentes y actualización de los documentos informativos pueden encontrarse en nuestras páginas web dedicadas al Aprendizaje digital para estudiantes y Familias. ¡Pronto actualizaremos la información adicional referente a las calificaciones, evaluaciones, promoción/retención y la programación para el summer bridge!
• La distribución de alimentos continuará durante el resto del año escolar. La información sobre la  distribución está disponible en www.pcsb.org/foodlocations. Si no puede ir a uno de los sitios escolares, otros proveedores locales a través del condado están ofreciendo comidas nutritivas y gratuitas para nuestros estudiantes. Una lista completa de los sitios en nuestra comunidad se puede encontrar en Pinellas County government website.  

Deseo comunicar a todas las familias que, durante las últimas dos semanas, el distrito ha convocado un equipo de planificación interfuncional que incluye profesionales médicos con experiencia en enfermedades infecciosas. Hacemos esto para asegurarnos que, a medida que planificamos para el verano 2020 y el curso escolar 2020-21, nos guiemos por profesionales de salud y nos apoyemos en las mejores prácticas para la seguridad, la salud y el bienestar. Durante las próximas semanas, continuaremos compartiendo actualizaciones y planificando para el verano 2020 y el curso escolar 2020-21. 

Pinellas County Schools sigue dedicada en proporcionar una educación de alta calidad a nuestros estudiantes. Estoy agradecido por su continuo apoyo a nuestros estudiantes, personal y comunidad durante este tiempo de aprendizaje digital. ¡Somos mejores cuando estamos unidos!

Atentamente,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Superintendente Pinellas County Schools

 

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View previous updates

 

Superintendent Message to Families
8 p.m.

Today, Governor DeSantis and the Department of Education extended the closure of all school buildings in the state of Florida for the balance of the school year due to the COVID-19 health crisis. I, as your superintendent, and the Pinellas County School Board, believe this to be the absolute right decision. The safety, health and well-being of our students, families, staff and community are of the utmost importance. This means, that Pinellas County Schools will continue with digital instruction for the rest of the 2019-20 school year. We are excited that during the first three weeks of digital learning nearly 98 percent of our students are engaging online. That being said, I am committed to continuously improve our supports for our staff, students and families with the ultimate goal of reaching 100 percent participation.

 

Thank you for your continued support to ensure the learning of your student(s) continues. I know the transition for our students, families and staff has not been easy and our day-to-day lives have all drastically changed. I am beyond grateful to each of you for the understanding, grace and flexibility we have given ourselves and one another. The spirit of unity and cooperation I have experienced throughout our school community is truly remarkable.

 

I also want to thank our principals, teachers and staff for going the extra mile to create dynamic online lessons and to connect with students and families in this new way. I have seen incredible examples of the creative and innovative ways students and teachers are connecting and learning. We know digital learning does not replace the relationships or experiences of our classrooms; however, we are here to support you and your student(s) so they continue their learning.

 

We recognize that there are many end-of-year traditions and this time is exceptionally hard for our high school seniors and their families. We are working to ensure such celebrations, especially graduation, are honored and meaningful. With that in mind, all high school graduation commencement ceremonies for Pinellas County Schools will be conducted virtually, with each school also hosting a celebration at their school site once it is deemed safe by health officials to have large gatherings. Further details about virtual commencement ceremonies for the class of 2020 will be communicated to seniors and their families by principals next week.

 

As a reminder, all information and resources are available on the district website which is updated on a regular basis at www.pcsb.org/coronavirus including specific pages for:

 

• Digital learning resources for students and families, including frequently asked questions and updated how-to tutorials are available on our dedicated webpage for Digital Learning for Students and Families. Additional information regarding grading, testing, promotion/retention and summer bridge programming will be updated soon!
• Meal distribution will continue throughout the remainder of the school year. Distribution information is available at www.pcsb.org/foodlocations. If you are not able to go to one of the school sites, other local food providers throughout the county are offering free, nutritious meals for our students. A complete list of sites throughout our community can be found at the Pinellas County government website. 

 

We continue to gather feedback from all our stakeholders to improve the experience for our students, families and staff. I am committed to ongoing communication with our families during this time. As I stated in one of my very first messages regarding COVID-19, we will work together, with care and compassion, to support our students and community through this challenging time. Pinellas County Schools remains dedicated to providing a high-quality education to our students. I sincerely appreciate your continued commitment, patience and support.

 

Sincerely,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Superintendent Pinellas County Schools

 

 

School Closure and Digital Learning Update - En Español (PDF)

Superintendent Message to Families
6:30 p.m.

Pinellas County Schools Community,

Thank you for your continued support during this time of uncertainty due to COVID-19.  This afternoon, Governor DeSantis and the Department of Education extended their directive requiring all school districts in the state of Florida to close for students through May 1. While we know this extension is not ideal, the decision was made to ensure our students, families and staff remain healthy and safe.

We will continue to refine and improve our digital learning processes. Today was our first day of full implementation, and while there were some bumps, the transition was successful thanks to your cooperation and support.

We will also continue to distribute free meals throughout the closure.  We are currently serving at nine school sites but will be ramping up over the next two weeks to ensure our students have access to nutritious meals. Distribution locations are available on the district’s website at www.pcsb.org/foodlocations.

We will continue to keep you updated on the latest information as it becomes available. Please monitor our social media channels and the district’s information page at www.pcsb.org/coronavirus.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Pinellas County Schools

 

Translated message

Spanish (pdf)

Superintendent's Message to Families

March 27, 2020 
5:30 p.m.

 

PCS Families,

Every August, I send a back-to-school message to welcome our students and families, and, in a way, this feels similar. While this Monday will not begin a new school year, it will be a new way of learning. We are committed to providing our students the best education possible. There will be a learning curve for all involved, and we will work to continuously improve our processes to ensure successful outcomes for all our students. 

Make no mistake – school will be back in ‘virtual’ session on Monday! We will begin slowly, to make sure all students and teachers have time to adapt. Ultimately, we will ramp up to provide the instructional and digital experiences necessary to challenge all students. 

I want to thank you for your continued support. I know this has also dramatically shifted the daily lives of our families.  We all want our students to succeed and now more than ever our partnership will be key to making that happen! 

Here is a link to answers for Frequently Asked Questions we have received about digital learning: Digital Learning FAQ for Families.

If you or your student have any difficulty with the digital learning platform, reach out through our Digital Hotline at 727-588-6060, call your student’s school or access the resources available on our webpages.  

We will continue to keep families apprised of additional resources and any changes as they relate to the COVID-19 health crisis. 

Sincerely,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Superintendent 

 

Message Translations

• Arabic Superintendent's Message
• Spanish Superintendent's Message
• Vietnamese Superintendent's Message

Superintendent's Message to Pinellas County Schools Families

March 22, 2020
2:00 p.m.

Pinellas County Schools Families,

I hope you and your family were able to enjoy a portion of your spring break in light of the COVID-19 health crisis. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to ensure our students stay safe, healthy and continue their learning.

As you know Governor DeSantis and the Department of Education extended a directive requiring all school districts in the state of Florida to close for students until April 15.  

District staff has been working throughout spring break to prepare for digital instruction, and to address the questions from families and staff. This is an extraordinary situation. We are committed to make decisions with the best interests of our students, families and staff in mind. We must all recognize that processes may not be optimal or perfect, but we are dedicated to continuously improving our supports for our staff, students and families during this unprecedented situation.

Digital Learning for Students

This week, March 23-27, students and families can access grade level, academic enrichment activities and get to know the digital platforms that are available through our Digital Learning Students and Families webpage. A link to these activities is now available on your school’s website. During the week of March 23-27 our teachers will be working collaboratively to prepare for digital instruction on our Microsoft Teams platform. This will, no doubt, be a shift for our teachers and students.  We are working with our teachers to plan for and provide the best possible experience for all students in all grade levels. 

On Monday, March 30, the district will transition to course/class specific assignments developed and led by their teachers utilizing the Microsoft 365 Teams (Microsoft Teams) platform. On Microsoft Teams, your student’s teacher(s) will be able to give class specific lessons and messages directly to their students.

All resources for students and families, including frequently asked questions and how-to tutorials are available on our dedicated webpage for Digital Learning for Students and Families.

To prepare, students and families can:

• Review the Digital Learning Students and Families webpage and resources (https://www.pcsb.org/Page/32734)
• Ensure you know your student’s R2D2 number and password so they can log-in to digital learning environments.
• If you or your student do not know their R2D2 number, please use the information on the attached document or contact our Digital Learning Helpline at 727-588-6060 which will be open starting on March 23.

We will begin distributing laptops and tablets for students in need beginning Tuesday morning, March 24. You will receive a message directly from your principal on Monday with details on the distribution process.

Thanks to Spectrum, free WiFi is available to our students.  To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395.  All installation fees will be waived for new student households.  WiFi hotspots across Spectrum’s footprint will also be available for public use.

Individual Education and 504 Plans

Students with Individual Education or 504 Plans will continue to have accommodations and services available in the digital platform.  Students with an IEP can expect their case manager to contact them through Microsoft Teams the week of March 30.

Food & Nutrition Resources for Students

Our Food and Nutrition Team will also be distributing free meals this week at nine of our schools this week for Pinellas County Schools students ages 18 and younger.  From March 23 through April 15 each location will serve a lunch and breakfast, in a single bag.  While we encourage parents and caregivers to drive to our locations, we will also be accepting walk-ups. 

For meal location information visit www.pcsb.org/foodlocations

If you are not able to go to one of the school sites listed above, other local food providers throughout the county are offering free, nutritious meals for our students. A complete list of sites throughout our community can be found at: https://211tampabay.org/home/food-and-meals/

The district is working to expand the number of distribution sites beginning March 30. We will share an updated list as soon as it is finalized.

Student State Assessments

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has announced that all PK-12 student state assessments will be cancelled for the 2019-20 school year. FDOE will provide guidance to school districts in the near future regarding any potential impacts for students.  As the district learns more information, we will share this with our community.

State School Grade Designations vs. Student Grades

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has announced that all school grade designations will not be calculated for schools for the 2019-20 school year.

Students will continue to earn grades based on their progress in their classes. Student grades and credits will continue to count toward promotion and/or graduation.

Student Instructional Hours

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has announced that the Commissioner is evaluating how digital instruction will count toward student instructional hours. The Commissioner may reduce required K-12 instructional hours, as necessary, to accommodate for school closures.

Information and resources are available on the district website which is updated on a regular basis at www.pcsb.org/coronavirus.   

I know the transition to digital learning may not be easy and that there will be new questions and challenges that arise. We will work together, with care and compassion, to support our students and community through this difficult time. Pinellas County Schools remains committed to providing a high-quality education to our students. We appreciate your continued patience and support.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Superintendent Pinellas County Schools

 

All school districts in the state of Florida to close for students until April 15

March 17, 2020
8 p.m.

Thank you for your continued support during this time of uncertainty due to COVID-19. How we come together to support one another, and our students says so much about our community. This afternoon, Governor DeSantis and the Department of Education extended a directive requiring all school districts in the state of Florida to close for students until April 15. Therefore, all Pinellas County Public Schools will be closed for students from Monday, March 16-20 for Spring Break and continue to be closed through April 15, 2020. From March 23-27, all schools will undergo deep cleaning by our plant operations and maintenance staff and all employees will engage in activities that will support preparation for digital instruction.

 

Digital Learning for Students

Pinellas County Schools is prepared to transition to student digital learning during the week of March 23-27.  During this time our goal is for students and families to access grade level, academic enrichment activities and get to know the digital platforms that are available through our Digital Learning Students and Families webpage.

On Monday, March 30, the district will transition to course/class specific assignments developed and led by their teachers utilizing the Microsoft 365 Teams (Microsoft Teams) platform. On Microsoft Teams, your student’s teacher(s) will be able to give class specific lessons and messages directly to their students. The district will use the week of March 23-27 to ensure staff is trained and students are connected in order to effectively transition to Microsoft Teams.

We want to make this change as easy as possible. All resources for students and families, including frequently asked questions and how-to tutorials are available on our dedicated webpage for Digital Learning for Students and Families. To prepare, students and families can:

• Review the Digital Learning Students and Families webpage and resources (https://www.pcsb.org/Page/32734)
• Ensure you know your student’s R2D2 number and password so they can log-in to digital learning environments If you or your student do not know their R2D2 number, please contact our Digital Learning Helpline at 727-588-6060 which will be open starting on March 23.

As most staff are on Spring Break, we will continue to communicate district-level updates. Your principal will be communicating additional, school-specific details the afternoon of Monday, March 23 via School Messenger.

Additional Supports

• Digital Device Needs: Should your student need access to a digital device (laptop, computer, etc.) to engage with school work, district device distribution will take place on Tuesday, March 24 and Wednesday March 25.  School specific distribution times will be sent to families from their principal on the afternoon of Monday, March 23 via School Messenger.
• WiFi Access: Thanks to Spectrum, free WiFi will be provided to all students.  For students to enroll, they will need to call 1-844-488-8395.  All installation fees will be waived for new student households.  WiFi hotspots across Spectrum’s footprint will also be available for public use.

 

Student State Assessments

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has announced that all PK-12 student state assessments will be cancelled for the 2019-20 school year. FDOE will provide guidance to school districts in the near future regarding any potential impacts for students.  As the district learns more information we will share this with our community.

 

State School Grade Designations vs. Student Grades

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has announced that all school grade designations will not be calculated for schools for the 2019-20 school year.

Students will continue to earn grades based on their progress in their classes. Student grades and credits will continue to count toward promotion and/or graduation.

 

Student Instructional Hours

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has announced that the Commissioner is evaluating how digital instruction will count toward student instructional hours. The Commissioner may reduce required K-12 instructional hours, as necessary, to accommodate for school closures.

 

Staff Reporting and Preparation

Staff should refer to the communication sent to their district email on March 16, 2020.  Additional information will be sent directly to your district email in the upcoming days.

 

Food & Nutrition Resources for Students

During the week of March 23-27, our district will establish Grab-and-Go feeding sites at nine Pinellas County Schools to ensure that students have accessibility to meals during this timeframe.  Our Food & Nutrition Services Department has identified the locations listed below that will provide both breakfast and lunch to all individuals 18 years old or under.

 

As school closures through April 15 were just announced, additional information with regard to longer-term food distribution will be forthcoming.

 

From March 23-27 each location will serve a lunch and breakfast, in a single bag.  While we encourage parents and caregivers to drive to our locations, we will be accepting walk-ups.  Additionally, Pinellas County Emergency Management will be coordinating with other local food providers to allow students to have access to nutritional options at other locations as well.  The school sites below will be utilized as distribution sites.  A complete list of sites throughout our community can be found at www.pcsb.org/foodlocations

We thank you for your patience during this time. Please continue to monitor our social media platforms and district webpage at www.pcsb.org/coronavirus. Thank you for working with us through this unprecedented situation. Pinellas County is a wonderful, strong and vibrant community, we will get through this challenging time together!

Sincerely,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Pinellas County Schools

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Pinellas County Schools Closure Announcement

March 13, 2020
6:00 p.m.

Pinellas County Schools’ Community,

Based on the direction of the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), Pinellas County Schools will now be closed from Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27. All extra-curricular activities are also cancelled for this time-period. During this time, deep cleaning of all school buildings will occur.

Students/Families: We will continue to communicate with all stakeholders regarding the availability and expectations for digital learning during this time.

Staff: We will issue further instruction for staff regarding reporting and leave requirements in the upcoming days. Please be sure to monitor communications to inform your work status for the week of March 23-27.

Please note that FDOE has announced that statewide assessments that were scheduled during the first week of April will be postponed to dates that will be determined by the state.

We continue to coordinate with our local health officials, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Education and Pinellas County Emergency Management within the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Thank you for your continued commitment and service to our community, children and families during this rapidly changing time. We will continue to update the community of any changes through email, our website (https://www.pcsb.org/coronavirus) and social media.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.

Superintendent

 

Spring Break Travel Advisory

March 13, 2020

The health and safety of our students, staff and community remains a top priority. Pinellas County Schools continues to work closely with local health officials, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Education and Pinellas County Emergency Management to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.

Following Spring Break (Monday, March 23 for staff and Tuesday, March 24 for students), a specific procedure will begin for any student, employee or person who needs to come to a school and meets the following criteria:

1. Has traveled out of the country OR
2. Has gone on a cruise

Anyone (students/faculty/staff/etc) who travels anywhere out of the country or on a cruise MUST self-isolate for 14 days upon return. In addition to the regular procedures for reporting an absence, call your principal, tell them you need to report a mandatory self-isolation.

This requirement from the Department of Education, Department of Health and CDC could change, even during Spring Break. We will continue to follow and communicate any new requirements.

Pinellas County Schools continues to prepare and plan for all contingencies that could result from COVID-19 in the coming weeks. Our goal is to keep students safe, healthy and learning. We understand that the current situation may be causing apprehension for our families and community. At the current time, schools will be open following spring break based on the direction of and constant communication with local health officials, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Education and Pinellas County Emergency Management. Coordination with our local health officials is directly aligned with the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools-faq.html):

“Any decision about school dismissal or cancellation of school events should be made in coordination with your local health officials. Schools are not expected to make decisions about dismissal and event cancellation independent of their local health officials. Dismissal and event cancellation decisions should be considered on a case-by-case basis using information from health officials about the local conditions.”

Should the situation change we will notify our students and families via all communication channels including our website and social media. We will also continue to post updates regarding COVID-19 on our website: pcsb.org/coronavirus.

 

 

Comunidad de las Escuelas del Condado de Pinellas,

La salud y la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes, el personal y la comunidad sigue siendo una prioridad. Las Escuelas del Condado de Pinellas continúan trabajando muy de cerca con los funcionarios locales de salud, el Departamento de Salud de Florida, el Departamento de Educación de Florida y el Departamento de Manejo de Emergencias del Condado de Pinellas para garantizar la salud y seguridad de nuestros estudiantes y personal.

Después del receso de primavera (lunes 23 de marzo para el personal y martes 24 de marzo para los estudiantes), comenzará un procedimiento específico para cualquier estudiante, empleado o persona que necesite asistir a la escuela y cumpla con los siguientes criterios: 

1. Ha viajado fuera del país O
2. Ha ido en un crucero

Cualquier persona (estudiantes / facultad / personal / etc.) que viaje a cualquier lugar fuera del país o en un crucero DEBE aislarse durante 14 días a su regreso. Además de los procedimientos regulares para reportar una ausencia, llame a su director y dígale que necesita reportar un auto-aislamiento obligatorio.

Este requisito del Departamento de Educación, Departamento de Salud y CDC podría cambiar, incluso durante el receso de primavera. Continuaremos siguiendo y comunicando cualquier requisito nuevo.

Las Escuelas del Condado de Pinellas continúan preparándose y planificando para todas las contingencias que podrían resultar del COVID-19 en las próximas semanas. Nuestro objetivo es mantener a los estudiantes seguros, saludables y aprendiendo. Entendemos que la situación actual puede estar causando aprensión en nuestras familias y comunidad. En este momento, las escuelas estarán abiertas después del receso de primavera basado en las indicaciones y comunicación con los funcionarios locales de salud, el Departamento de Salud de Florida, el Departamento de Educación de Florida y el Departamento de Manejo de Emergencias del Condado de Pinellas. La coordinación con nuestros funcionarios de salud locales está directamente alineada con la orientación de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools-faq.html): 

“Cualquier decisión sobre el despido escolar o la cancelación de eventos escolares debe hacerse en coordinación con los funcionarios de salud locales. No se espera que las escuelas tomen decisiones sobre el despido y la cancelación de eventos independiente de los funcionarios de salud locales. Las decisiones de despido y cancelación de eventos deben considerarse caso por caso utilizando información de los funcionarios de salud sobre las condiciones locales ".

Si la situación cambia, notificaremos a nuestros estudiantes y familias a través de todos los canales de comunicación, incluyendo nuestra página web y las redes sociales. También continuaremos publicando actualizaciones sobre COVID-19 en nuestra página web: pcsb.org/coronavirus.

 

Sinceramente,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.

Superintendente

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Superintendent's Spring Break Message
March 12, 2020
5:00 p.m.

 

Pinellas County Schools’ Community,

 

As we prepare to take a well-needed break, I hope you use this time for some self-care, rest and renewal. It is a time to reflect on all our student and school achievements during the first 7 months of the school year and focus on meeting and surpassing our goals over the last nine weeks.

I know this isn’t the spring break we had expected. While COVID-19, a form of the coronavirus, has not been detected in our schools, it has impacted our community. Public health officials recently confirmed two positive cases in Pinellas County of individuals over the age of 60, related to travel overseas.

Pinellas County Schools continues to prepare and plan for all contingencies that could result from COVID-19 in the coming weeks. Our goal is to keep students safe, healthy and learning. To do so, we need to keep schools open while limiting the spread of germs. We’ve intensified the daily cleaning and disinfecting of all our classrooms, facilities and school buses. Principals, teachers and school nurses have been educating our students on the importance of good hygiene, such as washing our hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer, coughing into our elbow or a tissue instead of our hands, and staying home if not feeling well or have a fever.

I encourage you to continue following the same preventative-measures during the next week and be cautious when traveling and interacting with people during spring break.

Please adhere to the advisories regarding traveling to high-risk areas as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Should you make the decision to travel to a high-risk area, notify your school or worksite immediately upon returning so that direction or guidance from the CDC and the Florida Department of Health can be implemented prior to your return to school.

During the break, we will continue to stay in close contact with the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Education and rely on guidance from the CDC. Based on their recommendations, we’ve made changes for the health and safety of our children, including the cancellation of out-of-state field trips using air travel. I am aware that many of you have had to change your plans, and I appreciate the resiliency and the understanding you continue to show.

I thank our school and support staff for your commitment and service to our community, children and families during this rapidly changing time. While I understand that many of these precautionary steps are disruptive, as a community we must contribute to the solution to help limit the spread of this health issue. We will continue to update the community through our website (https://www.pcsb.org/coronavirus) and social media. I hope you take advantage of our Spring Break Academic Challenges as well as rest and enjoy time with family and friends so we can finish the school year healthy and strong!

 

Sincerely,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Superintendent

 

 

 

La Comunidad del Districto Escolar del Condado de Pinellas,

 

Mientras nos preparamos para tomar un descanso muy necesario, espero que aprovechen este tiempo para cuidarse, descansar y renovarse. Es un momento para reflexionar sobre todos los logros de nuestros estudiantes y escuelas durante los primeros 7 meses del año escolar y enfocarnos en cumplir y superar nuestras metas en las últimas 9 semanas.

Sé que este no es el receso de primavera que esperábamos. Si bien COVID-19, una forma del coronavirus, no se ha detectado en nuestras escuelas, sí ha afectado a nuestra comunidad. Funcionarios de salud pública confirmaron recientemente dos casos positivos de personas mayores de 60 años en el condado de Pinellas, relacionados con viajes al extranjero.

Las Escuelas del Condado de Pinellas continúan preparándose y planificando para todas las contingencias que podrían resultar debido al COVID-19 en las próximas semanas. Nuestro objetivo es mantener a los estudiantes seguros, saludables y aprendiendo. Para hacerlo, debemos mantener abiertas las escuelas y limitar la propagación de gérmenes. Hemos intensificado la limpieza y desinfección diaria de todos nuestros salones de clases, instalaciones y autobuses escolares. Los directores, maestros y enfermeras escolares han estado educando a nuestros estudiantes sobre la importancia de una buena higiene, como lavarse las manos con agua y jabón durante 20 segundos o usar desinfectante para las manos, toser en el codo o en un pañuelo en lugar de las manos y quedarse en casa si no se sienten bien o tienen fiebre.

Les animo a que sigan las mismas medidas preventivas durante la próxima semana y tengan cuidado al viajar e interactuar con las personas durante el receso de primavera.

Por favor sigan las advertencias sobre viajes a áreas de alto riesgo de acuerdo con lo determinado por CDC. Si toman la decisión de viajar a un área de alto riesgo, notifique a su escuela o lugar de trabajo inmediatamente después de regresar para que las instrucciones u orientación del CDC y el Departamento de Salud de Florida puedan implementarse antes de su regreso a la escuela.

Durante el descanso, continuaremos en contacto cercano con el Departamento de Salud de Florida, el Departamento de Educación de Florida y confiaremos en la orientación de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades. En base a sus recomendaciones, hemos realizado cambios para la salud y la seguridad de nuestros niños, incluyendo la cancelación de viajes de campo fuera del estado mediante viajes aéreos. Soy consciente de que muchos de ustedes han tenido que cambiar sus planes, y aprecio la adaptación y comprensión que continúan mostrando.

Aprecio y agradezco a nuestras escuelas y al personal de apoyo por su compromiso y servicio a nuestra comunidad, a los niños y a las familias durante estos tiempos de cambios rápidos. Si bien entiendo que muchos de estos pasos de precaución son inquietantes, como comunidad debemos contribuir a la solución para ayudar a limitar la propagación de este problema de salud. Continuaremos actualizando la comunidad a través de nuestro sitio web (https://www.pcsb.org/coronavirus) y las redes sociales. ¡Espero que aprovechen nuestros retos académicos en el receso de primavera (Spring Break Academic Challenges), así como descansen y disfruten del tiempo con su familia y amigos para lograr terminar el año escolar saludable y fuerte!

 

Sinceramente,

Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Superintendente

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Update: March 11, 2020
6:00 p.m.

The COVID-19 situation continues to evolve.  Late last night, the Department of Health shared that Pinellas County has two confirmed cases of the virus, with two men in their 60s who had a history of international travel. There are no cases of COVID-19 related to our schools at this time.

The most recent update to district guidelines involves field trips and travel. Due to a strong recommendation from the Florida Department of Education and the Department of Health, the district has suspended all out-of-state air travel for students and staff effective immediately, and all out-of-county field trips will be reviewed on a case by case basis. This action is based on the most current information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We are receiving many inquiries on a variety of topics related to school operations. 
The district has developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions.  

Please only trust reliable information sources such as those linked below. 

Florida Health.gov
Florida Health - Pinellas County
CDC Coronavirus Information Page
CDC Travel Advisory 

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UPDATE: March 6, 2020
5:00 p.m.

Pinellas County Schools is focused on keeping your student safe, healthy and learning, and to do so, we are working very closely with the Department of Health (DOH) and Pinellas County Emergency Management to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The district is continuously monitoring the situation, coordinating with local and state agencies and ensuring we have the latest information to help keep our students and staff safe. Pinellas County Schools continues to prepare and plan for all contingencies that could result from COVID-19 in the coming weeks. 

Currently, there are no cases of COVID-19 in Pinellas County, and the risk of infection remains low for the general public in Florida and across the United States. The DOH will contact the school district in the event someone tests positive for the virus.

Preventing the spread of germs for all respiratory diseases including coronavirus is among the most powerful tools for staying healthy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Following the CDC K-12 school guide, the district has intensified the daily cleaning and disinfecting of all our classrooms, schools and buses.

• Classroom desks, chairs, door knobs and any touchable areas are being disinfected daily.
• We are ensuring soap, paper towels and hand sanitizers are available in all facilities.
• Principals and school nurses are reminding students how to prevent the spread of germs: wash your hands frequently, cough into a tissue or your elbow not your hand, don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth and stay home when you are sick.
• Flyers from the CDC on good hygiene practices are posted in schools.
• We have provided an overview video to schools to share with students.
• School bus drivers are disinfecting seats and areas students frequently touch at the end of their route each day.

Students who are sick are encouraged to stay home. While our general attendance policy remains in place, schools will address extended absences on a case by case basis. Families are encouraged to communicate with teachers to stay up to date on lessons as needed.

The district has suspended the attendance portion of the exam exemption policy for high school students, for this semester only.  All other portions of the policy remain in effect.

Athletic activities continue as usual. The district is disinfecting equipment more frequently. Post-game handshakes are optional, being replaced with fist-bumps or head-nods at the athlete’s discretion.

In the unlikely event the Department of Health closes one or more schools, the district has a digital learning plan in place to ensure no interruption in learning.

As spring break approaches, we encourage families to be mindful of traveling to high risk areas as determined by the CDC. As of this writing, these areas include China, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea. The CDC’s current travel advisory can be found at the link listed below. Families traveling to high-risk areas should notify their school by telephone immediately upon returning so that direction or guidance from the CDC and the Florida Department of Health can be implemented prior to the student’s return to school. Reentry may include precautionary measures, such as self-isolation for up to 14 days, if recommended by the Department of Health.

We ask parents, families and employees to remain calm, stay informed, continue using disease-prevention strategies and trust only reliable information sources including www.floridahealth.gov.

Pinellas County Schools will remain diligent in following the latest data available and will communicate with parents as we receive new information. All district updates will be posted at www.pcsb.org/coronavirus.

The safety, health and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority.

For more information visit:

Florida Health.gov

Floria Health - Pinellas County

CDC Coronavirus Information Page

CDC Travel Advisory

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UPDATE: March 3, 2020
8:00 p.m.

Earlier today, Governor Ron Desantis’ office announced a third presumptive positive case in Florida.  This person is a relative of the confirmed case in Hillsborough County, and also resides in Hillsborough County. The other confirmed case is a Manatee County man. Despite these cases, the overall risk in Florida is low.

Pinellas County Schools continues to work closely with the Department of Health and Pinellas County Emergency Management to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff. According to the Department of Health in Pinellas County, there are currently no cases of COVID-19 in Pinellas County or in any of its municipalities. The DOH will contact the school district in the event of someone testing positive for the virus, and the district has contingency plans in place if needed.

Meanwhile, the district’s focus is on education and prevention.  We are escalating the cleaning and disinfecting protocols.

• Classroom desks, chairs, door knobs and any touchable areas are being disinfected daily.
• We are ensuring soap dispensers, paper towels and hand sanitizers are available in all facilities.
• Principals and school nurses are reminding students on how to prevent the spread of germs: wash your hands frequently, cough into a tissue or your elbow not your hand, don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth and stay home when you are sick.
• Flyers from the CDC on good hygiene practices are posted in schools.
• We have provided an overview video to schools to share with students.
• School bus drivers will disinfect seats and areas students frequently touch at the end of their route each day.

We ask parents and families to stay calm during this time and to trust only reliable information sources including www.floridahealth.gov.

Pinellas County Schools will remain diligent in following the latest data available and will communicate with parents as we receive new information. All updates will be posted at www.pcsb.org/coronavirus

The safety, health and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority.

 

For more information visit:

Florida Health
Florida Health - Pinellas County

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UPDATE: March 2, 2020
8:30 a.m.

The Florida Department of Health has announced there are two presumptive positive cases of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Florida. Both individuals remain in isolation at this time. Despite these cases in Florida, the overall immediate threat to the public remains low.

The first patient is an adult Manatee county resident without travel history to countries identified for restricted travel by the CDC. This person did seek health care, is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. The Florida Department of Health is working closely with the patient, their close contacts and health care providers to isolate and monitor persons who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and implement testing of anyone who may develop COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

The second patient is an adult resident of Hillsborough county with a history of travel to Italy. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials.

Pinellas County Schools continues to work closely with the Department of Health to ensure the health and safety of our staff and students.

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The Centers for Disease Control issued an update on the coronavirus, now called COVID-19. The health and safety of our students is our top priority. The district is in constant communication with the Florida Department of Health.

Currently, there are no cases of COVID-19 in Pinellas County or the State of Florida, and the risk of infection is low for the general public in the United States. We are continuously monitoring the situation and reviewing our plans with local and state health agencies should the coronavirus impact our area.

We remind families to practice all preventative measures used during flu season, including handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding sharing cups or utensils.  If your student is sick, please keep them home from school.

As an added precaution, we have elevated our cleaning and disinfecting protocols at all district facilities and will ensure that soap dispensers remain filled and hand sanitizer is readily accessible.

You can find the latest information on the virus at www.floridahealth.gov. Also, please see the Fact Sheet from the Centers for Disease Control. Any impacts to our school district will be shared on our website and through our social media channels.