Schools to provide educational resources during closure

School districts in Jefferson and Clallam counties plan to provide some meal services and educational options during a six-week closure mandated through April 24.

While many students returned to school for classes Monday, all schools statewide will be closed beginning today, Gov. Jay Inslee said.

The closure includes after-school athletics, clubs and external groups as well as West Sound Tech and Port Townsend Maritime Academy.

The Port Townsend School District office will remain open until Friday, allowing parents to pick up any medications left there for children. Additionally, the district office will remain open for staff and to answer any questions from families.

Port Angeles School District Administration Offices will remain open during the closure. School offices will remain open until further notice.

Port Angeles School District parents will be notified when students can can pick up personal belongings after the school was closed Monday, school district spokesperson Jennifer Sperline said.

The Port Townsend district said in a press release it will follow the lead from the state Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction (OSPI) and will not participate in online classes. Instead, it will provide resources and activities, including school library books, to reinforce and maintain learning that has occurred throughout the school year.

Port Angeles teachers will be sending learning resources to parents “in order to maintain progress during the school closure,” Sperline said. “We look forward to students coming back to school on April 27.”

Teachers in the Port Townsend district will reach out to families beginning Thursday to determine their individual needs and how they would like to receive additional educational resources for their children.

That district said it is waiting for guidance from OSPI on how to best ensure high school seniors will be able to remain on track to graduate.

In terms of childcare, Port Townsend will partner with the YMCA to provide emergency K-5 childcare for first responders and health care workers at Salish Coast Elementary. Families who need the service will need to complete online forms and wait to be contacted by the district.

The Quilcene School District also will provide care for first responders and the children of health care workers. The service will be available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it may be extended for additional families.

The Port Angeles School District will have childcare options through YMCA Licensed childcare, the Boys & Girls Club, C&C Kids licensed childcare and SPARKS.

Several school districts will remain open for meals for those who rely on free or reduced lunch.

Port Angeles School District will provide free meals to students during the closure. Beginning today, sack lunch and breakfasts will be available to children ages 2-18 free of charge. The child must be present to receive the meals. Meals will be served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. For more information and sites, visit www.portangelesschools.org.

For Port Townsend, meals will be available at four district locations on weekdays for all youth under 18 years old starting today from 9 to 11 a.m.

The locations are Salish Coast Elementary, 1637 Grant St., Port Townsend High School, 1500 Van Ness Ave., Jefferson County Airport, 191 Airport Cutoff Road and the Cape George Fire Station, 3850 Cape George Road.

No forms or registration will be required. Families are encouraged to pick up the meals and eat them at home, although youth must be present upon pickup.

Chimacum School District Food Services Director Margaret Garrett said meals can be picked up via grab-and-go bags from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the Junior and Senior High School as well as at the primary school. The bags will contain items for both breakfast and lunch, and a student younger than 18 must be present to pick it up.

Meal delivery along school bus routes may begin March 23, Garrett said.

The Brinnon School District will be delivering meals via bus routes, superintendent Patricia Beathard said.

In Quilcene, the district will provide grab-and-go bags beginning today between 10 a.m. and noon. The district hopes to begin a delivery service on Wednesday during which the food will be dropped off at bus stops or at other designated collection areas, such as local fire stations.

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Jefferson County reporter Ken Park can be reached at kpark@peninsuladailynews.com.

Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb contributed to this report.