Central Valley schools pursue child care, academic support plans

The Central Valley School District is moving ahead with plans for child care and academic support, Superintendent Ben Small told families in an email letter sent to families on Friday.

The next priority is to create last-resort child care for health care workers and first responders. On Monday, the district will open four school buildings to provide child care for health care workers and first responders.

Information and a registration form are now posted on the district website, along with details and locations.

On Wednesday, teachers will begin posting “authentic academic engagement opportunities” to their Google Classroom, Seesaw or ClassDojo sites.

The district also plans to loan Chromebooks to students who need the devices and don’t have access at home. The Chromebooks can be picked up at the school a child attends.

On Tuesday, staff began providing meals to students at sites around the district.

All districts in the area continue to issue regular updates during the closures, via their websites, social media or direct emails to families.

Here is a district-by-district rundown of plans as of Wednesday afternoon:

In Spokane Public Schools, food distribution is widening after initial distribution began on Thursday.

At Central Valley School District, only K-5 children with parents who are first responders or are in the medical field will receive child care priority with service beginning Monday at sites to be announced. Breakfast and lunch are now available at 11 sites, the district announced Wednesday.

In the Mead School District, food will be distributed beginning Monday at selected sites, the district announced Wednesday. For families of health service workers and first responders, day care will be in place by Monday.

The Coeur d’Alene School District has released details on food pickup. Free grab-and-go meals for school-age children are now available, with distribution via buses from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the following locations: Fernan STEM Academy, Bryan and Skyway elementary schools, Lakes Middle School (front parking lot) and Ramsey Magnet School of Science (west parking lot). Emergency K-5 child care is now available at Ramsey Magnet School and will be limited to district students whose parents or guardians work in health care or emergency services. The hours are 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

The West Valley School District is in the process of refining plans for child care for the children of first responders and healthcare providers. YMCA child care at Pasadena or Seth Woodard elementary schools will continue for those already enrolled. Grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches are available at Pasadena Park, Seth Woodard, Ness and Orchard Center elementary schools. Children must be present to receive meals. School staffs are working on academic support plans.

On Tuesday, the East Valley School District finalized details for food distribution at sites throughout the district, beginning immediately. To receive child care, families of first responders and medical workers must fill out an online form. Child care will begin on Monday. Educational resources for parents will be posted on Monday.

In Cheney Public Schools, plans were finalized for breakfast and lunch, which began Wednesday. Academic updates on “optional learning resources” will be sent out as resources become available.

In the Medical Lake School District, meal distribution is scheduled to begin Monday. These will be grab-and-go lunches that include provisions for the following day’s breakfast. The district has created a survey with distribution locations to identify the number of meals needed. The district is still working on a plan to provide child care.

The Deer Park School District plans to offer child care for children, ages 3-13, of health services personnel and first responders, but a questionnaire must be completed first. Free grab-and-go lunches are being provided from 11 a.m. to noon, the district said Tuesday. Academic options are still being weighed, the district said Saturday.

In the Riverside School District, free child care will be provided beginning Monday for preschool through fifth-graders in families of medical field workers and first responders. Sack breakfasts and lunches will be available at off-school sites.An academic plan will be rolled out on Monday, the district said.

The Freeman School District is offering free sack breakfasts and lunches but requires applicants to fill out a form.

In the Nine Mile Falls School District, families are asked to fill out a form that covers food as well as child care.