School districts in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties were working on the details of instructional resources, food service and limited child care as they faced statewide school closures until at least April 24, part of Gov. Jay Inslee’s response to the COVID-19 virus.

Instructional Resources

Teachers in the Aberdeen School District have chosen resources based on what their students had been studying at school. Suggested schedules were posted for elementary, junior high and high school students on the district’s web site. Most of the resources require a device and internet access. Parents can check out a Chromebook by filling out a device check-out sheet and bringing it to the school.

In order to access a student’s passwords and usernames, parents were asked to contact the student’s teacher through their district email address. Households without internet access can check internet access resources to obtain free or reduced rate access.

“We will be offering remote learning in many classes, via such routes as Apex Online Learning, Google Classroom, Classroom Dojo, paper packets, etc. All grade 7-12 students have Chromebooks. We will also be sending home Chromebooks (or iPads) with many of the elementary students,” said Raymond Superintendent Steve Holland.

“On Monday, district administrators and teacher leaders are meeting to develop the framework of what will be our educational program,” South Bend Superintendent Jon Tienhaara said Friday.

“On Tuesday all staff will come in and we will begin to implement our program plan. This will no doubt vary and look different depending on the grade level. We could see a mixture of both online resources, periodic 2-way teacher/student communication via Zoom, and paper-based packets. Our primary concern is ensuring we meet the needs for all students and that they have equal access to an education,” Tienhaara said.

Food Service

Aberdeen Schools will be providing grab ‘n go meals from 10 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. All students 18 and under are eligible to receive free meals. There are no requirements to provide personal information. Lunch and breakfast for the next day will be provided to each student. The meals have been designed to be picked up and eaten at a different location to encourage social distancing. Meals can be picked up by an adult, however students need to be present to receive meals. At this time, special diets can not be accommodated.

In Aberdeen, meals will be provided at the following park locations: Central Park School, Finch Playfield, North End Park, Pioneer Park and Wes Peterson Park.

Other Grays Harbor Districts offering meals to students 18 and under besides Aberdeen so far include Cosmopolis, Elma, Hoquiam, Montesano, Oakville, Rochester.

Cosmopolis schools will deliver meals to students by bus at Mill Creek Park at 10:45 – 11:00 a.m., Toy Room Child Care bus stop at 11:05-11:20 a.m., Holly Lane and Altenau at 11:25-11:40 a.m., Franklin Hill Park 11:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Elma schools will have meals at Satsop Post Office 12:30-1 p.m., Malone Assembly of God 12:00-12:30 p.m., White Star 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., 10th Street Park 11:00-11:30 a.m., 24 El Monte Lane 1:15-1:45 p.m., Murray Place 12:45-1:15 p.m., Star Lake Clubhouse 12:30-1:00 p.m., Back of Summit Pacific 11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m.

Hoquiam schools will have meals at the Grays Harbor YMCA and Lincoln Elementary at 11:15-11:45 a.m. and at Central and Emerson Elementary at 12:00-12:30 p.m.

Montesano will have meals from 9 until 11 a.m. Monday through Friday in front of Beacon Elementary, Simpson School and the Junior/Senior High School.

The Oakville School District will deliver meals along bus routes. Exact locations and times were to be determined.

The Rochester School District is providing meals at Rochester High School from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Swede Hall parking lot from 12 to 1 p.m. and via a bus route to 201st at Prairie Pines Park at 11 a.m., the bus garage parking lot at 7505 183rd Ave. at 11:40 a.m. and the Rochester Boys & Girls Club at 10140 Highway 12 SW at 12 p.m.

Raymond schools will be delivering meals to bus stops, said Holland. “We will distribute a lunch and the next day’s breakfast to every child who rides that bus,” he said.

Tienhaara said food service would continue in South Bend.

“We are working to identify the best ways for getting the food out to students. Breakfast and lunch will be available at no charge to all students regardless of family income,” he said.

Limited Child Care

The Log Pavilion has tentatively been chosen as the location for Aberdeen schools to provide limited child care for the children of first responders and health care workers Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m starting on March 23. It will be offered only for Aberdeen School District students in kindergarten though fifth grade and their preschool siblings. An application form should be available early this week.

“South Bend School District has agreed to offer child care for children of first responders and health care providers,” said Holland.

“I’m so impressed with the many folks who worked on the details this weekend. We still have pieces that need to be finalized, but we are certainly getting closer,” said Aberdeen Superintendent Alicia Henderson on Sunday.

Make-up days are still up in the air, but OSPI has said nobody will go beyond June 19, Holland said.