Remote Learning Begins This Week. This Is How It Will Work For Escambia County Students.
March 29, 2020
Tens of thousands of students in Escambia County will start classes this week at home, the first time they have had formal instruction since getting out of school for spring break on March 13.
Teachers and staff members officially head back to work on Monday, and teachers will begin calling students with complete details on how they will handle online instruction. Teachers were originally set to report to campuses on Monday, but many will work from home, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said Saturday afternoon.
Every Escambia County School district student in grades 3-12 already has an assigned Chromebook, and the district will be providing Chromebook laptops to students in grade K-2 from a stockpile of extras.
“The Chromebooks were purchased to use for a three-year cycle, but it turned out they lasted longer. We still had 10,000 of them we had not gotten rid off. They were taken offline, but they still work perfect and will go to schools for grades K-2. Some parents may also let their kids use their current laptop or computer.”
Parents and students will be instructed when to pick up their Chromebooks during a phone call from their teacher on Monday or Tuesday along with virtual learning instructions. The distribution times and days will be staggered to keep large groups from forming on campuses. If parents have not received a call from their child’s teacher by the end of Wednesday, they should call the school and make sure the district has the right phone number on file.
The district is targeting Wednesday, April 1 to begin remote instruction.
“Some elementary teachers are ready today,” Thomas said Saturday. “Some are ahead but for some it is going to depend on technology in the home of the student, and that will be a little more challenging.”
Once it became clear that students would switch to virtual learning at home, the district began to grapple with exactly how to reach students that have inadequate or even no available internet access at home.
“Teachers can put workbooks and assignments on flash drives for students without Wi-Fi,” he said. “We have the availability of Wi-Fi at community centers and libraries as a last resort for students. I think some will use it, but I don’t think it will be a larger number.”
Each student already knows their student ID and their password, the superintendent said, so working at home on their Chromebooks will be almost the same as being on campus. For the most part, work can be completed on the student’s schedule, but there may be a scheduled time for a video conference in some classes.
“We are going to be very flexible, whatever works for families, students and teachers,” he said.
The district will be taking attendance based upon when students log into the learning environment.
Exclusive: COVID-19 Testing Site Will Be Announced This Week In Cantonment
March 29, 2020
NorthEscambia.com has learned that COVID-19 testing site will be announced for Cantonment this week.
The site will a partnership between Escambia County and Community Health Northwest Florida. Testing will likely be conducted on Tuesday and Thursdays, beginning as early as this Tuesday, March 31.
Details are expected to be officially announced early this week along with the exact location and the registration process. We’ll have that information on NorthEscambia.com as soon as it is made available.
As of Monday morning, nine positive COVID-19 cases had been reported in Cantonment by the Florida Department of Health.
FHP Sets Up Checkpoint On I-10 To Enforce State COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
March 29, 2020
The Florida Highway Patrol set up a checkpoint on I-10 eastbound entering Florida on Saturday to enforce an order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis concerning travelers from areas with significant COVID-19 community spread.
On Friday, DeSantis announced there would be checkpoints entering the state after he added Louisiana to the state’s self-quarantine requirements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
DeSantis said counties and the Florida Highway Patrol will be able to enforce the requirements at checkpoints on the “main thoroughfares” into Florida, including I-10. Drivers from Louisiana, New York, New Jersey or Connecticut are pulled aside for further screening. They are required to isolate for a period of 14 days upon entry to Florida or for the duration of their visit, whichever is shorter, and should be prepared for additional monitoring by the Florida Department of Health.
Upon entry in Florida, each arriving traveler or responsible family member (if traveling as a family) will be required to complete a traveler form. The form requires key information, including each traveler’s contact information and trip details. Failure to complete the form and failure to follow any isolation or quarantine order from DOH are a violation of Florida law.
Additionally, travelers from the targeted states are provided with a traveler card, which has contact information and guidance in the event the traveler exhibits symptoms while in isolation that are attributed to COVID-19, including fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
The Florida Highway Patrol is staffing the I-10 checkpoint at the Alabama/Florida line 24 hours a day with about 16 troopers per 12 hour shift..
Commercial vehicles are allowed to bypass the checkpoint.
A second checkpoint will be created on I-95 on Florida’s northern border to screen for travelers from the New York area, DeSantis announced Saturday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Church Provides 400 Meals For Waterfront Rescue Mission
March 29, 2020
The disaster response team from Pinewoods Presbyterian Church in Cantonment delivered 400 meals to the Waterfront Rescue Mission recently.
Donations to Waterfront have dropped off due to COVID-19, and the church took the opportunity to help.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click enlarge.
FWC: Social Distancing Applies On The Water Too With New Boating Restrictions
March 29, 2020
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) has added new boating restrictions to reduce large gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Recreational vessels must be at least 50 feet apart with no more than 10 people on board under the order.
“The Commission has observed and received numerous reports from across the state that large numbers of vessels are congregating together in various locations across the state, tying up or anchoring close together, and individuals are often leaving their vessels and assembling closely in shallow water,” the order states.
The distance restriction does not apply to public or private marinas, mooring fields or permanent wet slips.
All Non-Essential Businesses In Alabama Now Closed For Three Weeks
March 29, 2020
All non-essential businesses in Alabama closed by 5 p.m. Saturday under order from Gov. Kay Ivey in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. They will remain closed for three weeks.
The businesses ordered closed include entertainment venues such as theaters, racetracks, indoor children’s play area and casinos; athletic facilities including fitness centers, spas, and activities on commercial or playground equipment; close-contact service providers such barber shops, hair salons, nail salons and tanning salons; and retail stores such as department stores, furniture stores, clothing stores and sporting goods stores. A more complete list in the order below.
Gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies and business types not on the list below can remain open.
The order also prohibits any non-work related gathering of 10 more people or that cannot maintain a 6-foot separation between people.
Among the businesses ordered closed in Alabama are:
Entertainment venues as follows:
- Night clubs
- Bowling alleys
- Arcades
- Concert venues
- Theaters, auditoriums, and performing arts centers
- Tourist attractions (including museums and planetariums)
- Racetracks
- Indoor children’s play areas
- Adult entertainment venues
- Casinos
- Bingo halls
- Venues operated by social clubs
Athletic facilities and activities as follows:
- Fitness centers and commercial gyms
- Spas and public or commercial swimming pools
- Yoga, barre, and spin facilities
- Spectator sports
- Sports that involve interaction with another person of closer than 6 feet
- Activities that require use of shared sporting apparatus and equipment
- Activities on commercial or public playground equipment
Close-contact service providers as follows:
- Barber shops
- Hair salons
- Waxing salons
- Threading salons
- Nail salons and spas
- Body-art facilities and tattoo services
- Tanning salons
Massage-therapy establishments and massage services
- Retail stores as follows:
- Furniture and home-furnishings stores
- Clothing, shoe, and clothing-accessory stores
- Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores
- Department stores
- Sporting goods stores
- Book, craft, and music stores
Baptist Releases Full COVID-19 Test Result Information. The Other Local Hospitals Have Not.
March 28, 2020
Baptist Healthcare became the first local hospital to release full COVID-19 testing data, but so far other local health care providers have not.
On Saturday, Baptist said they have collected 316 samples outside of their hospitals. Of these samples taken, 119 have resulted negative; six have resulted positive; and 191 results are pending. That is about a five percent positive rate among results.
Baptist also said they have three COVID-19 positive patients at Gulf Breeze Hospital and two COVID-19 positive patients at Baptist Hospital.
Ascension Sacred Heart, West Florida Hospital and Community Health of Northwest Florida have not provided complete data on the COVID-19 tests they have administered. They have not said how many of their tests are negative, how many are pending or the number of positives.
“We expect to join other area providers in jointly reporting testing data soon to provide the community with an accurate accounting of COVID-19 cases in the area,” Baptist said in a statement.
Staff Member At Century Prison Confirmed Positive For COVID-19
March 28, 2020
A confirmed positive COVID-19 case has been reported in an employee or contract staff member at Century Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
NorthEscambia.com first learned of the a reported COVID-19 case on Tuesday and sent numerous questions about it to the FDC. The corrections department public affairs office acknowledged most of our inquiries, but they did not confirm the case at the Century prison until late Friday. The FDC will not say if the individual is a staff member or a contract employee at the prison.
“In order to protect the personal health information of these individuals, FDC will not identify the name or occupation of the employees,” FDC said in a statement. “Staff…may be employed by FDC or one of its contractors. Any employee who is symptomatic, or who has tested positive for COVID-19, will not be allowed entry to a correctional institution. The employee will not be allowed to return to work until a full recovery is documented by a medical professional and DOH and CDC guidelines are followed. Additional questions on the above individuals (gender, age, travel status) should be directed to the Florida DOH (Florida Department of Health).”
State officials said that no inmates have tested positive at Century CI or any other prison facility in the state.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Missionaries Trapped In Peru By Coronavirus Lockdown Are Headed Home
March 28, 2020
A Pensacola missionary and her intern that were stuck in Peru by the coronavirus pandemic are now set to head home.
Linda English, director of Reimagine/Doers of the Word Ministry arrived a their mission headquarters in in Peru on March 9 only get caught up in a lockdown of the country a few days later. Her intern, Caitlin Salak, had been in the country for several months and was also caught in the lockdown that is not set to end until at least April 12.
“God will redeem this time the enemy has taken from us for He is a good, good Father,” English told NorthEscambia.com Friday night from Peru.
“At least in Pensacola, there are people driving around, they’re still working, I mean this country is shut down,” English said.. “We’ve bowled with water bottles in the hallway and a basketball, we’ve been really creative.”
“Our quarantine is much different than what is going on the United States right now,” English said by video from Peru. “We have not left this building for 11 days. We are both people-people. It’s been difficult.”
But Friday night English and Salak learned they would be heading back to the United States.
“Caitlin and I just received our letter from the US Embassy that we are going home tomorrow,” English said Friday night. “There are so many to thank….for all the strings you pulled and all the prayers you’ve said on our behalf. Thank you!”
She said they will fly into Washington, D.C. and travel home to Pensacola.
Reimagine Cantonment, the ministry’s next major outreach in the United States, is planned for October 10 at Ascend Park in Cantonment.
Pictured: Linda English (left) and Caitlin Salak by video from Peru.
Florida Temporarily Increases SNAP Benefits To The Max Allotment
March 28, 2020
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday directed the Florida Department of Children and Families to temporarily increase SNAP benefits to the maximum monthly benefit.
The governor said a family of four that was receiving $449 a month will now receive $509. The increase will be for March and April.