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New Governor Executive Order (3.19.20)

Thursday, March 19, 2020

 

Dear P-H-M Families,
 

This afternoon Governor Eric Holcomb announced that all Indiana schools will remain closed until May 1, 2020.

 

On Monday of this week (March 16), I shared with you that it was our hope to be able to return to school after Spring Break on Monday, April 13.

 

With the Governor’s Executive Order, this now means that we will not return to schools until sometime after May 1, 2020. Extended eLearning will continue after Spring Break. We are awaiting additional guidance from the Indiana Department of Education.

 

The Governor and Indiana Superintendent Dr. Jennifer McCormick announced this afternoon that state required assessments: IREAD-3, ILEARN, ISTEP, I AM, WIDA, and ISPROUT are canceled for this school year. 

 

In today’s news conference, Dr. McCormick also stated that the IDOE is still working through graduation requirements for this year’s high school seniors. She asked for patience as the IDOE works to navigate through all components involved. Dr. McCormick empathized with our students and families and understands the anxiety you are going through.  We will share the information as soon as we have an update from the IDOE.

 

We shared today’s news with our staff. We assured them that all P-H-M employees will continue to be paid and receive benefits during the extended eLearning period. 

 

Along with teachers, many of our staff and administrators are working and supporting our students and families. Teachers and other educational staff members are working remotely from home directly with students through eLearning. 

 

We have minimized the amount of essential staff members still working in our buildings. Key staff members from Food Service, support staff, custodians, maintenance, administrators, etc. continue working to provide the valuable services needed by our families and to keep the district operational, safe and clean.

 

Those of us who remain are practicing safe social distancing as recommended by the state and federal government and local health officials. 

 

Other employees are working at home performing their normal duties remotely where possible and/or doing online professional development.

 

Every day brings a new development. We are aware that adjustments to your child’s educational environment are just one of the many, many changes that families are trying to adjust to.

 

Please know that we are doing our very best to help minimize the amount of educational changes, within our control, that impact your lives.

 

Thank you for your continued support and flexibility. Stay healthy. Stay calm. We will continue to keep you informed as this situation evolves. 

 

Dr. Jerry Thacker
Superintendent of Schools