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.  

School	Time
Dunedin Elementary 900 Union St., Dunedin	10:45 am - 11:45 am
Eisenhower Elementary 2800 Drew St., Clearwater	11:00 am - Noon
Fairmount Park Elementary 575 41st St. S, St. Petersburg	10:15 am - 11:15 am
Marjorie K. Rawlings Elementary 6505 68th St. N, Pinellas Park	11:00 am - Noon
John Hopkins Middle 701 16th St S, St. Petersburg	10:30 am - 11:30 am
New Heights Elementary 3901 37th St. N, St. Petersburg	10:45 am - 11:45 am
Ponce De Leon Elementary 1301 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Clearwater	11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Southern Oak Elementary 9101 Walsingham Rd., Largo	11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Tarpon Springs Elementary 555 Pine St., Tarpon Springs	10:30 am - 11:30 am

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:

 

School	Time
Dunedin Elementary 900 Union St., Dunedin	10:45 am - 11:45 am
Eisenhower Elementary 2800 Drew St., Clearwater	11:00 am - Noon
Fairmount Park Elementary 575 41st St. S, St. Petersburg	10:15 am - 11:15 am
Marjorie K. Rawlings Elementary 6505 68th St. N, Pinellas Park	11:00 am - Noon
John Hopkins Middle 701 16th St S, St. Petersburg	10:30 am  - 11:30 am
New Heights Elementary 3901 37th St. N, St. Petersburg	10:45 am - 11:45 am
Ponce De Leon Elementary 1301 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Clearwater	11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Southern Oak Elementary 9101 Walsingham Rd., Largo	11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Tarpon Springs Elementary 555 Pine St., Tarpon Springs	10:30 am - 11:30 am

Distribution of School Meals During School Closures (PDF File)

 

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

---

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

---

 

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

---

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 

---

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

---

 

 

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

---

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.

---

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.