SPS teachers prepare for coronavirus school closures

It may have been a Sunday, but Regal Elementary was abuzz with teachers busily prepping— but not for the start of a new school year. As Spokane Public Schools joined other districts in the state with a mandatory closure, teachers spent part of the weekend gathering take-home materials to send home with students on Monday, which is being referred to as a transition day and the last day of school for six weeks.

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Sun., March 15, 2020

Jan McGowan, left, and Heather Miciak video chat with another teacher at Regal Elementary School as they create labels containing student login information for a digital program called Clever, which allows students access to educational resources, on Sunday, March 15, 2020. Many teachers and school employees used Sunday to gather materials for students to take home, amongst other preparations, as Spokane Public Schools close for six weeks in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 after Monday.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Second grade teacher Megan Higgins assembles take-home workbooks for her students at Regal Elementary School on Sunday, March 15, 2020. Many teachers and school employees used Sunday to gather materials for students, amongst other preparations, as Spokane Public Schools close for six weeks in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 after Monday.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
A stack of books in a second grade classroom, topped with a particularly fitting title for the times, is seen at Regal Elementary School on Sunday, March 15, 2020. Many teachers and school employees used Sunday to gather materials for students to take home so that they can continue their education, amongst other preparations, as Spokane Public Schools close in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 after Monday.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review
Regal Elementary second grade teacher Kristin Lentz consolidates Ziploc bags of books, each bag tailored to the student's reading level, in advance of the "last" day of school before Spokane Public Schools close for coronavirus on Sunday, March 15, 2020. "We're here for the students, they are why we do what we do," Lentz said, explaining why teachers were busy at work on a Sunday.

Libby Kamrowski The Spokesman-Review