In keeping with the latest direction from Governor Brown, the Oregon Health Authority, and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), Salem-Keizer Public Schools (SKPS) will extend the emergency closure through April 28. That closure could be shortened or extended at the direction of Governor Brown. Students are currently scheduled to return April 29.
“We are in uncharted territory,” said Superintendent Christy Perry. “At no time have our schools, our districts or our public education system been faced with so many uncertainties. We’re grateful for the continued guidance from the state so that we can help be sense makers for our community. 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.”
All regular staff will continue to be paid throughout the emergency closure that began on March 16. This includes, but is not limited to, teachers, instructional assistants, bus drivers, custodians and maintenance staff.
Meals will continue to be offered at 35 locations throughout Salem and Keizer from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Those locations are available here. In addition, the district is partnering with the United Way, Marion-Polk Food Share, Mano a Mano and local houses of worship to expand wraparound supports at sites as well as ways that the meal service can adapt to better meet the community’s needs.
District leaders are prioritizing creating a pathway to graduation for high school students. With additional guidance from ODE forthcoming, information for impacted students and their families will be provided the week of March 30. In the meantime, supplemental resources for learning will be distributed to families beginning the week of March 23. Resources for home learning are not intended to replace classroom instruction or district-adopted curriculum. No content will be graded.
SKPS leadership has begun reaching out to first responders and healthcare workers to assess their needs and develop an emergency plan for their childcare.
