Lincoln Parish Schools

A conference call was held Sunday afternoon, March 22nd with representatives from the Governor's Office, the Louisiana Department of Education and state superintendents. All facets of the school food service program were discussed. The issue is not whether feeding students is important. We all agree that it is. At the same time, staff and employee safety must also be considered. In one week alone, through the efforts of our dedicated employees and school personnel volunteers, we have served approximately 11,000 meals. On Monday, March 23, 2020, we averaged serving about 4 meals per child which will carry us through the current week. While this program is important, we must consider the safety and well-being of our employees as well, particularly in light of the shortage of adequate protective gear such as gloves, face masks, and thermometers. Accordingly, given the shortage of these supplies and our concern for our employees, our school system will for the time being suspend our food services after serving one more day on Monday, March 23, 2020. Thanks for your understanding.

Good afternoon. This is Mike Milstead, Superintendent, Lincoln Parish Schools. Based on the Governor's proclamation, the Lincoln Parish School Board Office will be closed for the remainder of this week, 3/24-27/2020, and the week of 3/30-4/3/2020.

To: Parents and Community From: Mike Milstead 1. Probably the best/most important thing you can do with your child during these days away from school is to read to and with them daily. 2. Access the resources available on our website, https://www.lincolnschools.org/. Almost daily updates continue. Many lessons, interactive practices, and tests are available. Many are based on information taught in our classrooms. In addition, some teachers continue to reach out using Google Classroom and Facebook Live. 3. If you text LACOVID to 898-211, it will send you a link to connect to up-to-date FAQ with Louisiana 2-1-1. It’s a really good source of current information concerning coronavirus. 4. Beginning Monday, March 23, we will add the Lincoln Parish School Board office at 410 South Farmerville as a site for disbursing school breakfasts and lunches, 9:30-11:00 each day. 5. Continue best practices such as good hygiene, frequent handwashing, social distancing, and remaining at home to the extent possible. 6. We will get through this time together. Our goal is to offer the best possible education to all of our students regardless of the circumstances in which we may find ourselves. Be safe out there.

To: Parents and Community Members From: Mike Milstead 1. I encourage each of you to use our online resources for your children that you can access through the Lincoln Parish School Board website, https://www.lincolnschools.org/. We continue to update these resources. Some of them are our actual providers of curriculum materials. 2. We continue to work on best ways to continue our Dual credit and AP classes. More info soon on that. 3. Meal pickups continue at 8 of our school sites below between 9:30 and 11:00 for breakfast and lunch. All children under the age of 18 qualify. Choudrant High (includes Choudrant Elementary) Cypress Springs (includes RHS) Dubach Glenview (includes RJHS) Hillcrest IA Lewis Ruston Elementary (includes LPECC) Simsboro 4. Our plan remains to resume school on Monday, April 13. 5. Please support our local restaurants during this difficult time. Even if you don’t purchase a meal, try to purchase a gift card and share a meal with someone else. 6. Please continue practices that help protect your family from coronavirus: frequent handwashing, if possible staying away from those who are sick, and cleaning surfaces. We will get through these trying times. Best wishes to each of you.

March 16, 2019 Update 1. LPSB School Food Services continue 9:30-11:00 each regular school day at the following schools through March 27, 2020. Services will resume after spring break on Monday April 6 through Thursday, April 9. No meals provided on Good Friday, April 10. Choudrant High (includes Choudrant Elementary) Cypress Springs (includes RHS) Dubach Glenview (includes RJHS) Hillcrest IA Lewis Ruston Elementary (includes LPECC) Simsboro 2. Children 18 and younger qualify for these meals. 3. All LPSB Schools and school buses are being cleaned and disinfected this first week away from school, March 16-20. 4. Schools are not providing assignments during the time away from school. The Governor’s resolution was not decreed until Friday afternoon March 13 at 1:00. This timing gave virtually no time to prepare materials for student review even if we had planned to. 5. Presently educational links are available on the Lincoln Parish School Board website that could be useful as a tool to help students during this time away from school. More links will be added later. Taking advantage of these websites is encouraged but voluntary. 6. No extra-curricular activities associated with schools are occurring during the time school is not open. This includes all athletic contests and practices. 7. All LPSB Schools are closed including playgrounds and athletic facilities until further notice. 8. Lincoln Parish School Board office lobby and phones lines are open Monday-Friday, 8:00-12:00. To the extent possible, questions and concerns should be handled by phone or email.

TO: LPSB Parents/Guardians FROM: Mike Milstead, Superintendent, Lincoln Parish Schools 1. LPSB Cafeterias will be serving breakfast bags and lunch bags from 9:30-11:00 at the following locations, Monday through Friday. Ruston Elementary (includes LPECC) Simsboro Dubach Choudrant High (includes Choudrant Elementary) IA Lewis Cypress Springs (includes RHS) Hillcrest Glenview (includes RJHS) 2. You will be met at the carline sites with the meals so that you do not have to exit your vehicle. You will receive both meals at the same time. This will continue up to our Spring Break, which begins March 30th. 3. After regular Spring Break ends, breakfast and lunch disbursements will continue on Monday, April 6th at the same times. 4. More information will be sent to you using this format over the following days and weeks. Included in that information will be how you can if you choose to access online sites that might help your child continue their education during the 20 days that school are closed. 5. Stay safe. Take care of yourselves and your children.

Info concerning Lincoln Parish School Closure related to Coronavirus FROM: Mike Milstead, Superintendent, Lincoln Parish Schools TO: LPSB Parents 1. As you now know, Governor Jon Bel Edwards in a Proclamation issued today, Friday, March 13, 2020, has declared all Louisiana public schools closed Monday, March 16, through Friday, April 10, 2020. 2. Lincoln Parish Schools will reopen for students Monday, April 13, 2020. Originally, that was to be a holiday, but we will resume on Monday instead of Tuesday. 3. The Governor has waived the requirement of minutes of instruction associated with this closure. This closure will not be held against any instructional days normally required. 4. All school events during this time are cancelled. The goal is separation from social interaction during this month to the extent possible. 5. We do not yet know how this affects our normal spring testing and how that will play out. As soon as we get appropriate information, we will let you know. 6. Let’s take advantage of this time to defend ourselves and families from the Coronavirus and practice good hygiene associated with cleanliness, proper handwashing, staying at home when sick, and limiting travel. 7. I will continue to communicate with you through this means over the next few weeks.

School Closing Due to Coronavirus March 13, 2020 The governor’s office has mandated that all Louisiana public schools will close at end of day on March 13. The closure is a measure to help prevent the rapid spread of the coronavirus. Lincoln Parish will keep you informed via text alert, local news media, and Lincoln Parish School Board website regarding the reopening of schools. Our community safety is important to us and we encourage you to follow the guidance of the Center for Disease Control and the Louisiana Department of Health to stay up to date on developments in our community. Please follow all safety recommendations, including restricting travel and limiting exposure to events and meetings that require close contact. Mike Milstead, Superintendent

Dear Parent and Guardians, Scholastic has created a free Learn at Home website. This free resource provides all students with 20* days’ worth of learning journeys that span the content areas so you can keep your students academically active while your buildings are closed. The site supports students with approximately three hours of learning opportunities per day, including projects, articles and stories, virtual field trips, reading and geography challenges, and more. These daily learning opportunities were carefully curated by our editors to reduce the burden on teachers and families needing to create meaningful learning experiences. The Scholastic Learn at Home website does not require a username or password and is open freely to all, on any device. They are designed to limit the need for printing and allow students to learn independently or with their families. To access the site click the blue Scholastic Learn at Home hyperlink below: https://sable.madmimi.com/c/133556?id=10067.468.1.294dc5c7bfe9a4ae0e3fc4ecb75058d0

On Tuesday, March 17th Ruston High School will be giving the pre ACT and the ACT. All sophomores and all juniors will report to school that morning by 7:55 a.m., as well as any seniors retaking the ACT. No freshmen should report to school that day. Thank you and Go Bearcats!

The Lincoln Parish School Board adopted the 2020-2021 School calendar last night during the March School Board Meeting. The calendar can be downloaded at the following link: https://5il.co/dfg6

On March 2, 2020, Lincoln Parish will have its' Application Roundup for Preschool-Aged Children at the Lincoln Parish Library Events Center. Flyer Link: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/565517/Application_Roundup_for_Preschool-Aged_Children.pdf