Question: What should I do if I have concerns about my child having symptoms?
Answer: Contact your child’s health care provider. Symptoms for COVID-19/Coronavirus can be found on the CDC website.
Question: How is GCSC disinfecting the schools and busses?
Answer: GCSC has increased its cleaning protocols and we are deep cleaning all of our facilities. Our custodians are routinely disinfecting all high touch surfaces.
Question: What can we do to prevent the spread of all illnesses?
Answer: See the Coronavirus guidance from the CDC
These are their current recommendations:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash, and immediately wash your hands.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- If you do need to go out into the public and are around other people, wear a facemask.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
Question: How can I explain Coronavirus to my kids?
Answer: Read this comic strip explaining the virus with them.
Talking with children about COVID-19
Question: What happens if a student or staff member is exposed to or diagnosed with COVID-19?
Answer: If we have a direct contact, confirmed case of coronavirus we will move to close the impacted school(s) under the directive of the local health department to contain the spread of the virus. All parents will be notified by the district via website and robocalls.
Question: How will scholars get instructional materials in the event of a school closure?
Answer: Packets are being created for all scholars in the district. They will be sent home with children as soon as we are finished preparing them. Packets will also be available on our district website and at the 7 distribution centers throughout the city of Gary. (Addresses of the centers will be sent out to parents in the near future.) Parents should keep these packets at home and only have children complete them if there is a closure. Packets will be returned to school once school resumes and they will be graded by their teachers. The graded packets will count towards school days and we will not have to make up missed days at the end of the school year.
Question: What about my child who receives special education services if school closes?
Answer: Special education services will be provided through the work packets. If there are special circumstances, the student’s Teacher of Record will work with the parent individually. If there are case conferences or evaluations scheduled while school is closed, those will be rescheduled and we will work with the Indiana Department of Education on these timelines.
Question: Are there any resources for students who need food during the school closure?
Answer: We are working with the Gary Common Council and GCSC Food Service Department to establish 7 distribution centers (one in each district) where parents can pick up meals for each student. More information will be communicated as soon as the plan is solidified and we have location addresses.
Question: Students were expecting to participate in standardized testing (IREAD-3, ISTEP+, ILEARN, IAM) in the near future. How will this be handled?
Answer: GSCS staff is working with the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). IDOE has already indicated its flexibility to provide extensions on the testing timelines in the event of a closure. The exact steps and dates are still being defined.