Thomas: Escambia Schools Set To Reopen April 16, Employees Back To Work, Graduation Questionable
March 18, 2020
The Escambia County School District currently plans to reopen schools on April 16 and will implement a virtual learning program until that time, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas said Wednesday afternoon as he updated the district’s plans. Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered schools to close until April 15.
Remote instruction for students will begin on April 1, with most student completing virtual online coursework. Teachers will call parents or students by April 1. If the call is not received by April 3, Thomas said parents should call their child’s school.
Thomas said the district is still finalizing a plan on how to best reach students that have limited or no available internet at home, a problem he said that impacts a lot of North Escambia students because high speed internet is simply just not available in some areas. For those students, the district will likely resort to delivering paper lesson packets.
“Student success is a priority for us,” the superintendent said.
All state and district testing has been canceled, and all extracurricular activities, athletic practices and athletic events are canceled for the remainder of the school year
Thomas said graduation ceremonies have not yet been canceled, but it’s not looking likely that they will occur due to the fact the state has already ordered the cancellation of state college graduations.
“It’s a big moment and it’s important to those students,” Thomas said. “We want to celebrate that.”
For the remainder of the year, all district employees will continue to receive their regular pay.
On Monday, March 30, 2020, all district employees, with the exception of transportation employees, will return to their regular work locations. Hours of operation for the district from March 30 through April 15 will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.
When employees arrive, they must go directly to their office or classroom and not congregate in groups of 10 or more in any common area. School district transportation department employees will receive communication from their immediate supervisors, with instructions on when and where to report to work.
“The district will make every effort to work with parents and employees experiencing hardship situations. In addition, if employees are experiencing symptoms of illness, have traveled out of the country, or been in contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, they need to remain at home and contact their immediate supervisors.”
NorthEscambia.com image.
Baptist Hospital Restricts Patient Visits
March 18, 2020
Baptist Hospital is asking family members and friends not to visit loved ones in the hospital or outpatient care areas.
Instead, the hospital is recommending visits be conducted by phone, mobile device or programs such as Facetime or Skype.
Exceptions will be made for patients whose loved one is crucial to the delivery of their treatment and care. This caregiver must be well and not exhibiting any signs of illness.
Florida Public Schools Will Remain Closed Until At Least April 15; All State Testing Canceled
March 18, 2020
For an Escambia County specific update to this story, click here.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday ordered that all public schools in the state will remain closed until at least April 15 due to the coronavirus, and all state testing has been canceled.
Virtual classes will implemented in most districts after spring break.
The Santa Rosa County School District said they will begin a virtual learning program, but their are still working on specifics. By midnight Tuesday, the Escambia County School District had not issued any additional statements, but previously said they were working on a contingency plan for just such an occurrence.
DeSantis announced that all remaining assessments for school readiness and voluntary prekindergarten and all testing requirements for K-12 will be cancelled for the 2019-2020 school year, regardless if students return. Grade promotion, final report grades and graduation won’t depend on state testing results.
He said parents will be able to keep their student in the same grade for the next school year if they choose.
“The containment of COVID-19 is essential, and this is not a decision we made lightly. Districts have taken action and have instituted distance learning as a necessary precaution to protect students, educators, families, and Florida’s overall public health,” said Florida Department of Education Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. “We are working with our local school districts to provide guidance and help children who need access food during this time. Our number one priority is keeping our families safe and healthy and stopping the spread of this virus.”
Here are the actions effective immediately taken by the Florida Department of Education:
School Districts
- All public and private K-12 and career and technical center campuses are closed through April 15, 2020.
- Schools are encouraged to operate virtually or through other non-classroom-based means to the greatest extent possible to implement distance learning.
- School districts should be prepared to extend their educational calendars through June 30, 2020, to the extent feasible and necessary.
- For Collier, Duval, Sumter and Union county school districts, which are all completing their extended spring break on March 20, 2020, school campuses will remain closed through April 15, 2020, although they will begin instruction virtually on March 23.
- To support students with identified IEP-related services who may have a disruption in services, school districts are given flexibility for the remainder of the school year to provide alternative services or delay services until later in the summer months, in coordination with a student’s parents and IEP team.
Assessments, Accountability and Promotion
- All remaining assessments for school readiness, voluntary prekindergarten and K-12 assessments are cancelled for the 2019-2020 school year.
- Requirements for graduation and promotion, and final course grades will be evaluated as though those assessments which were cancelled did not exist.
- K-12 school grades will not be calculated for 2019-2020 and schools in turnaround may continue their current status for 2020-2021 to avoid disruption to school leadership and operations.
- Eligibility for Florida Bright Futures scholarships shall be based on available data and results. Tests that were not available to be taken shall not be counted.
Instructional Hours
- The Commissioner may reduce required instructional hours as necessary to accommodate for closures.
Funding
- The Florida Department of Education and K-12 school districts are instructed to redirect unspent 2019-2020 funds from Reading Scholarship Accounts, the Reading Instruction Allocation, the Digital Classroom Allocation and the Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program to help low-income students purchase digital devices and establish Internet services.
- In order to facilitate the remote connection between teachers and students, K-12 school districts are further permitted to redirect unspent Title 2 funds to help low-income students purchase digital devices and establish Internet services.
- K-12 school districts are permitted to redirect unspent 2019-2020 funds from the Safe Schools and Mental Health allocations to virtual and telephonic mental health counseling services for students who need emotional support due to COVID-19.
- All school readiness, voluntary prekindergarten, K-12, career and technical centers and state college programs will receive their full allocation of funding, and therefore staff and contractors can be paid fully, through June 30, 2020, as though there was no disruption in education.
Teachers
- For the next 120 days, exam fees for teacher certification-related examinations will be waived, and test takers who were unable to take an exam due to test site locations closing will be granted an extension to meet these requirements.
District School Board and State College Board of Trustees Meetings
- All district school board and state college board of trustees meetings through June 30, 2020, are postponed and may only be scheduled for emergency purposes only by the respective school district superintendent or college president.
- These meetings must be convened virtually or telephonically.
- If there is a vacancy or inability to serve on the part of the superintendent or college president, then the respective board chair may convene an emergency meeting.
- School districts and state colleges must ensure that meetings held by virtual means are accessible by interested members of the public.
Mass Gatherings and Community Events
- Commissioner Corcoran urges adherence to the CDC’s guidance for higher-risk populations by cancelling any mass gatherings, community events and extracurricular activities, including sports of more than 10 people in a single occupied space at any educational program, school readiness, voluntary prekindergarten, public and private K-12, career and technical centers, and public and private colleges and universities.
School Readiness and Voluntary Prekindergarten Programs
- Commissioner Corcoran strongly recommend school readiness and voluntary prekindergarten programs adhere to the CDC’s guidance for higher-risk populations by limiting students and employees to no more than 10 people convening in a single occupied space, therefore breaking students into groups as necessary, maintaining social distancing best practices and proper hygiene.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services Offices
- All services provided by the divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services to clients shall be provided solely though virtual and telephonic methods to the extent possible.
- The Department will work with appropriate federal authorities to seek waivers for any federal requirements that may be impacted.
Postsecondary Institutions
- All public state colleges, and private college and campuses and buildings are closed for the remainder of the spring semester.
- Colleges are encouraged to operate virtually or through other non-classroom-based means to the greatest extent possible.
- Colleges should be prepared to extend their educational calendars through June 30, 2020, to the extent feasible and necessary.
Biden, Trump Win Florida Primaries And Escambia County; Voter Turnout About 31%
March 18, 2020
Voter turnout in Escambia County on Tuesday was 31.11% as Joe Biden and Donald Trump won their respective party primaries.
The local vote in Escambia County closely mirror the totals across Florida.
- In the Democratic Primary, Biden took 66.72% of the vote in Escambia County and about 62% of the statewide vote. Bernie Sanders received 21.34% of the Escambia County vote and 22.8% across the state.
- In the Republican Primary, Trump received 94.4% of the vote in Escambia County and about 94% of the statewide vote.
Pictured: Escambia County Precinct 22 at the Century Town Hall on Tuesday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
So What’s This Social Distancing Thing We’re Hearing About?
March 18, 2020
Social distancing measures are taken to restrict when and where people can gather to stop or slow the spread of infectious diseases. Social distancing measures include limiting large groups of people coming together, closing buildings and canceling events.
The graphics below explain:
NorthEscambia.com graphics, adapted from the Florida Department of Health.
Escambia Sheriff’s Office Suspends Some Functions Due To COVID-19
March 18, 2020
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has suspended several functions to support the statewide initiative of social distancing. Beginning Wednesday morning, March 18, the following changes are being implemented:
- Training Division: All agency training and travel for training purposes has been canceled.
- Civil: As of today, there will be no suspension of services provided. Civil processes will continue as normal, until an order is issued by Court Administrators or the Chief Judge.
- Warrants: As of today, there will be no suspension of any services provided.
- Patrol: There will be no interruption of services to the public. Deputies have been provided guidelines for citizen contact. Reports where there is no immediate threat to life or safety can be made via the E-Reports section on the ECSO website. All citizen RideAlong programs have been suspended.
- School Resource: School resource deputies have been reallocated to areas within the agency.
- Investigations: There will be no interruption of services to the public.
- Victim Services: Victim Advocates have suspended face-to-face contact; assistance is being provided via telephone.
- Human Resources: All interviews and polygraphs have been suspended and none are currently being scheduled. HR is available by telephone for any questions.
- Community Relations: All community events have been suspended.
- Communications: Dispatchers will ask specific questions to identify risk factors for responding deputies.
- Records/Public Records: Records may be requested by telephone or via the records request center on the ECSO website. (escambiaso.govqa.us)
- Citizen Complaints: If you wish to file a complaint on a Sheriff’s Office Employee please follow the link below. All complaint forms must be signed and returned to the Sheriff’s Office.
- Property/Facilities: All deliveries will be accepted without vendors entering the physical building.
- Front Lobby: The lobby will remain open. Fingerprinting has been suspended.
- Evidence: All activities with the public are suspended, the office will be open and we are requesting that business be conducted by phone.
EREC Closes Office Lobbies, Scales Back Walnut Hill Post Office Services
March 18, 2020
Escambia River Electric Cooperative has closed their lobbies in Walnut and Jay, and they have scaled back services offered at their contract post office due to the coronavirus.
At the main EREC office in Jay, the drive-thru only will be open.
At the EREC Walnut Hill Office, which also includes the Walnut Hill contract post office, the lobby will be closed. The post office mail receptacle area will remain open with limited service. Individuals can still check their post office boxes, and drop-off small mail or packages. Purchasing postage and large package shipping will not be available and must be handled at a full-scale post office facility.
EREC accept payments by mail, online, by phone or using a night depository drop. Services such as opening or closing an electric, water or internet account; making changes to services; balance inquiries and service orders can be accomplished b phone or email. Contact memberservices@erec.com or call (850) 675-4521 or (800) 235-3848 for assistance.
Pictured: The Walnut Hill post office. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Century Town Hall Closes Lobby; Payments, Business Conducted At Drive-Thru
March 18, 2020
The lobby of the Century Town Hall has been closed to the public due to COVID-19.
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins said that town business — such as utility payments — can be conducted at the building’s drive-thru window during regular business hours.
The town has not made any changes to utility service due dates. Century does not offer online payments.
For more information, call the town hall at (850) 256-3208 or email Mayor Henry Hawkins at hhawkins@centuryflorida.us.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Bars, Nightclubs Closed For 30 Days; Restaurants Operating Under COVID-19 Restrictions
March 18, 2020
Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced new restrictions on restaurants and ordered all bars and nightclubs closed due COVID-19.
Restaurants must stay below 50 percent of their total capacity in dining areas, parties must be seated at tables must be at least six feets apart, and all employees must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms using a series of questions. DeSantis also encouraged restaurants to stay open offering takeout and delivery services.
Bars and nightclubs must remain closed for the next 30 days.
Pictured: All Whataburger restaurants have closed their lobbies, including this location on North Century Boulevard. The Century location remains open offering drive-thru service and curbside pick-up. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Navy Federal Employee In Pensacola Tests Presumptive Positive For COVID-19
March 17, 2020
Navy Federal Credit Union learned today that an employee working at its campus in Pensacola tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), the company said in a statement. The employee last reported to work on Saturday, March 14 before seeking medical treatment.
Across its operation, Navy Federal said it has strict protocols and policies in place to help prevent the spread of the virus, including:
- Instructing employees who don’t feel well to stay home from work
- Promoting social distancing and virtual meetings to limit exposure between employees
- Regularly disinfecting work stations and common areas
- Expanding telework (work from home) capabilities
Navy Federal is working with health officials in this case and will continue to follow CDC guidance to best protect the health and well-being of our employees.
Editor’s Note: It is not clear if this is a second case in Escambia County or just additional details about the first case. Updates will be posted.