Dear Gahanna-Jefferson families,
As we begin our second week of distance learning, I want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we all navigate through this new experience together. Many of you are working from home as you try to monitor your children doing their school work, and we realize this is not an easy task. I want to let you know that we are here for you and will help you in any way we can.
I am very proud of our teachers, principals, counselors and support staff for all they've done to keep learning going for our students. I've seen and heard about teachers holding virtual morning meetings with students, sharing recorded lessons, and conferencing with students about their learning at home. We also have nurses checking in on students with health concerns, staff serving lunch to hundreds of our students, and custodians making sure our buildings are still dry, safe, and clean. It is truly remarkable the way everyone is stepping up.
Our staff is extremely passionate about what they do, and we all miss having school in our buildings. We miss seeing kids get off the school bus and bound into their classrooms ready to learn. It will be a joyous day when this can happen again. However, for now, school is in session virtually, and it could be this way for a while.
While state testing has been canceled this year, we have not received an official word from Governor DeWine if we will return to our classrooms on April 6. He has signaled that our schools may be closed through April and perhaps even longer but has not issued that mandate as of today.
I am in frequent conversations with Mayor Laurie Jadwin, our Police Chief, Jeff Spence, and our Fire Chief, Fred Kauser, about the spread of COVID-19. We know COVID-19 cases will increase in central Ohio and throughout Ohio, and we are preparing for it. With them, we have made tough decisions about closing the school district and city playgrounds and other recreational facilities to avoid situations where people could come in contact with each other and the virus. Staying at home and social distancing remain critically important in slowing the spread of COVID-19.
We will continue to communicate through our website, our social media channels, and update you as things change. I hope you and your families stay safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Steve Barrett
Superintendent
Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools
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