County schools announce meal plan during shutdown

Dickenson County schools will begin food deliveries to students today, according to a Monday letter from Superintendent Haydee Robinson to parents, guardians and patrons.

Gov. Ralph Northam Friday ordered all K-12 schools in Virginia to close for a minimum of two weeks in response to the continued spread of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.

Schools will stayed closed through Friday, March 27, at a minimum.

“Localities will maintain authority over specific staffing decisions to ensure students maintain continuity of services or learning, while protecting the public health of teachers and staff,” a governor’s office press release stated. “Virginia Department of Education officials are working closely with school divisions and the Department of Social Services to ensure students who qualify for free or reduced lunch programs are able to access those programs while schools are closed.”

In her letter, Robinson explained that school staff members were using Monday and Tuesday to prepare home instructional packets and materials, and to make meal delivery plans.

Today, she wrote, buses delivering meals will operate on a three-hour delay. “If you identified your child for food delivery, please have your child at the bus stop at the approximate time” based on the three-hour delay, she explained.

Food for students identified for food delivery, but who do not ride a bus, will be available at the child’s school today from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

The food delivery will include a daily breakfast and lunch for today, Thursday and Friday.

The next food delivery will take place Monday, March 23, providing meals for that day and Tuesday. The process will continue with a delivery Wednesday, March 25.

PRE-K

At this time, it is unclear whether county schools will conduct pre-kindergarten registration in early April, according to school officials.

Registration had been scheduled to take place by appointment April 1-3, but officials now say they will wait to see how the coronavirus situation develops before firming up the pre-K plan.