Key takeaways: What we know about coronavirus COVID-19 and Salem-Keizer schools

Natalie Pate
Salem Statesman Journal

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With Salem-Keizer Public Schools extending emergency school closures through April 28, questions are circulating on how students will continue learning, how educators will be paid, if students will be able to graduate, how families will receive meals and more.

"We are in uncharted territory," said district Superintendent Christy Perry. "At no time have our schools, our districts or our public education system been faced with so many uncertainties. 

"We do not have answers to all of the questions at this time, but we will work as quickly as possible to chart an equitable and healthy path forward for our students, staff and their families." 

Salem-Keizer Public Schools bus driver Maria Bazuareyes goes over her bus with disinfecting wipes after her morning runs on March 11, 2020. This effort is above and beyond the normal daily cleaning as the school district is taking extra precautions against the coronavirus.

In a special school board meeting Wednesday afternoon, Salem-Keizer officials mapped out plans they have in place, as well as things they're still figuring out. 

Here are some of the key takeaways: 

Closures, staffing

Students were originally scheduled to return to schools April 1, per Gov. Kate Brown's initial orders. Now, however, schools are closed through April 28, with students expected to return April 29.

With the rate of changes, Brown may extend or shorten the closures at any time. 

All regular school district staff will be paid throughout the emergency closure, retroactively beginning with March 16, officials said. This includes, but is not limited to, teachers, instructional assistants, bus drivers, custodians and maintenance staff.

Instructional assistant Debbie Cabello assists students in cleaning out their lockers at Houck Middle School on March 13, 2020, on the last day before Oregon schools close due to coronavirus.

John Beight, executive director of human resources for Salem-Keizer, said the challenge will be determining who is getting paid and not doing work, versus those who are working. 

Hourly employees — classified staff who work less than 12 months year with the district — are allowed to do custodial work at their same wages. So far, about 170 individuals have taken advantage of the offer. 

District leaders have started reaching out to first responders and healthcare workers to assess their needs and develop an emergency plan for their childcare.

Officials are communicating with the Salem-Keizer Education Association that represents area educators about the likelihood of them providing that care and instruction in the schools. 

Educators are encouraged to donate blood and volunteer with groups in need, such as the Meals on Wheels program with Marion Polk Food Share. 

Superintendent Perry said the district will still receive State School Fund money as long as they provide supplemental learning, school meals and staff pay during the closures. 

Meals, mental health

Salem-Keizer has provided about 5,500 students with more than 11,000 meals so far.

Food is being passed out at 36 locations throughout Salem and Keizer from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. for the foreseeable future, officials said. Locations are available on the district's website and are determined based on school poverty rates.

That said, Michael Wolfe, chief operations officer for Salem-Keizer, said they are looking to progress past school sites to expand capacity and production. 

Students clean out their lockers at Houck Middle School on March 13, 2020, on the last day before Oregon schools close due to coronavirus.

Sodexo staff, the district's food service provider, will start preparing food in schools to have more space. Wolfe said they are looking into the possibility of using buses to deliver food to homes.

The school district is partnering with the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley, Marion Polk Food Share, Mano A Mano and local faith organizations to expand wraparound supports, officials said. One option may be the use of a mobile food pantry. 

Officials said they're also aware of the need to provide mental health supports to staff, students and families during this time. They are brainstorming ways to help especially vulnerable groups, including those who access special education services. 

Online learning, graduation

District leaders said they are prioritizing "creating a pathway to graduation" for high school students, with a large focus on this year's seniors. 

Guidance from the Oregon Department of Education is expected soon, but district officials said information for impacted students and their families will be provided the week of March 30. 

Students keep hand sanitizer on their desks at Houck Middle School on March 13, 2020, on the last day before Oregon schools close due to coronavirus.

In the meantime, officials said "supplemental resources" for learning will be distributed to families beginning the week of March 23. These will likely come in the form of online learning modules, but they aren't considered mandated or regulated curriculum.

"Resources for home learning are not intended to replace classroom instruction or district-adopted curriculum," officials said, adding that no content will be graded.

This is challenging considering school districts have to meet a certain number of instructional hours or days per school year, which also plays into graduation requirements for high school seniors. 

Additional barriers include the lack of internet access for several students and families, with some estimates suggesting upward of 13% of people in the region are underserved or without broadband. 

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District officials are considering passing out hard-copy materials at meal sites as a way to combat that, but that doesn't fulfill the need for instructional hours. Students without consistent shelter face additional barriers as well. 

A suggestion was made at Wednesday's school board meeting about students completing their GEDs and being able to use downtown learning spaces, which district officials said they'd look into. 

It's not known yet if the district will need to expand the school year into the summer now that they are losing 27 instructional days. 

Districts across Oregon are waiting for further directives from the State Board of Education, the Oregon Department of Education and Gov. Brown as they begin to brainstorm their own strategies. 

Waivers and adjusted requirements may be released. 

Salem-Keizer Public Schools bus driver Maria Bazuareyes goes over her bus with disinfecting wipes after her morning runs March 11, 2020. This effort is above and beyond the normal daily cleaning as the school district is taking extra precautions agains the coronavirus.

While there have been no coronavirus cases in Salem-Keizer, should there be, spokeswoman Lillian Govus said that communication will come from county and state health authorities. 

Concerning bond construction at Salem-Keizer sites, Wolfe confirmed Wednesday that they are still on schedule. 

For more information, go to salkeiz.k12.or.us.

Contact education reporter Natalie Pate at npate@statesmanjournal.com, or online via Twitter @Nataliempate or Facebook @Nataliepatejournalist