This post was originally published as the Superintendent's Corner column in the Winter 2020 edition of the Shrewsbury School Journal
This Superintendent’s Corner would have been on a much different topic, but the COVID-19 pandemic became an emergency just prior to the time this edition of the School Journal would have gone to print. So, instead, I will share with the larger community some of what I have been communicating with our families and staff now that all of our schools are closed by order of Governor Baker until at least April 7, and all town buildings are closed to the public with business being conducted via phone and electronic communication. Please see our website at schools.shrewsburyma.gov for up-to-date information on our school district’s response to the pandemic.
I hope all of you reading this continue to be well. When I write this, there are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Shrewsbury, but with expanded testing beginning to happen I assume it is a matter of time until we have the first confirmed case within our community. I ask that you help protect our older family and friends, those with health conditions, first responders, and medical professionals by practicing social distancing.
Closing schools is a major interruption to our educational program that creates difficulties for our students, who rely on our schools not only for education but also for many aspects of their well-being, including social and emotional support and meals. This decision also places a significant burden on many families with regard to childcare. However, I believe that this has been the right thing to do with regard to the health and safety of our community.
I shared three key messages with the school community regarding how we are responding to this unprecedented and rapidly evolving crisis:
The health & well-being of students, families, & staff is priority #1.
This is an extraordinary time in history, and everyone in our community has a collective responsibility to respond to this challenge.
Even though our schools are closed, we will continue to support our students, families, and staff from a distance and empower our students with opportunities for learning.
With our schools closed for an extended period of time, we immediately began providing grab-and-go meals to needy families since school breakfasts and lunches are not available, and we are also partnering with St. Anne’s Human Services to ensure our students and their families have access to the food they need. To address students’ educational needs, our curriculum leaders and educators continue to work on determining ways to best provide learning opportunities while students are at home. I am grateful to our parents for helping their children stay engaged with learning activities at home, and I am grateful to our educators for connecting with students and families through technology and providing various learning options. This process will continue to evolve, and I appreciate everyone's patience as we work to do this effectively during a time when many students' families and staff's families are undergoing a significant amount of upheaval.
This crisis is creating health and financial difficulties for so many, and the unpredictability and fear regarding what might happen naturally can create stress, anxiety, and emotional and physical exhaustion. These are trying times, so it is important for us all to show empathy, patience, kindness, and goodwill toward one another, and to model these things for our children. If we do, courage, fortitude, and perseverance will follow.
This is an unprecedented and extraordinary time for all of us. I have always been proud to be a member of the Shrewsbury community, and I am confident that our collective response to this very challenging situation will be characterized by respect and support for one another. We will rise to this challenge, together.
