VCS students, parents and community members,
I know this has been a stressful, uncertain time. I want you to know our staff has been working long hours putting together plans for our students and staff.
While information regarding the COVID-19 situation continues to change on a daily basis, our students remain our number one priority. Virtual and Distance Learning will begin on Monday, March 30 and continue until April 15. Paper packets will be available for all students. As part of the at-home instructional plan, a limited number of iPads and laptops will be distributed to school sites for students and families who do not have this technology at home. Here are the details:
Elementary iPad checkout will take place from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on March 25, March 26, and March 27.
Middle School and High School laptop checkout will take place from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 6, 7 and 8 at secondary sites (additional information will be shared for specific site deployment date).
Families with their own technology and internet access will be able to participate in virtual learning. We are working on instructional videos to help parents and students find and navigate the online programs.
It has been brought to our attention that Charter Communications will offer FREE Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households. In addition, Charter will open its Wi-Fi hotspots across the area for public use. The Volusia County School Board is not affiliated with this event/program in any manner, nor does it endorse or assume any responsibility for any actions which may occur in connection with it.
We will provide meals for students at the following 27 designated sites from March 23 through March 27 between the hours of 10am and 12:30pm. The link to these sites and more information can be found here: https://www.vcsedu.org/news/coronavirus-information. (we will be increasing this timeframe and the number of sites) We will utilize a drive-in procedure through our bus loops at school sites to minimize person-to-person contact.
We are still waiting on guidance regarding special events such as prom and graduations.
We will continue to monitor information that comes in from the state and federal government and notify you of any changes that will impact our district.
We will have a Question and Answer section on the district website early next week where you can submit questions.
Thank you for your patience. Please remember, we are all in this together.
Sincerely,
Scott Fritz, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
200 North Clara Avenue | Deland, FL 32720
386-734-7190, extension 20208
Fax: 386-734-2842
Email: rsfritz@volusia.k12.fl.us
