[Update 6:61 p.m.] – Rangeley Lakes Regional School will be closing from March 15 to March 27, per the district’s Facebook page. Information about remote learning and food services will be coming soon.
[Update 5:04 p.m.] – MSAD 58 Superintendent Todd Sanders, in a letter posted to the district’s website, wrote that schools will be closed for students on March 16 through March 27.
“This closure is not the result of any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our immediate communities,” Sanders wrote. “This decision was made in consultation with many, and out of an abundance of caution, to follow the rapidly changing guidance regarding enhancing social distancing efforts. This decision has not been made lightly and we certainly empathize and understand the significant burden this will cause families in the coming days.”
Sanders said that the district would be releasing more information about the closures, but wanted to get the initial news out quickly to allow parents to make arrangements.
###
Regional School Unit 9 and RSU 73 schools will be closed for students for the next two weeks. The announcements come as a number of districts across the state are closing or limiting access to school facilities in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19.
On Saturday, Maine CDC announced additional presumptive positive or preliminary presumptive positive test results for the 2019 novel coronavirus, bringing the state’s total number of positive test results up to six. Cases are confirmed by the U.S. CDC – “presumptive positive” references positive tests for the virus in a state lab, while “preliminary presumptive positive” refers to a positive test from a non-governmental laboratory. Maine CDC has also reported more than 90 negative tests.
The decision to close the schools from March 16 through March 27 was made pro-actively, RSU 73 Superintendent Scott Albert announced via a letter posted to the district’s website Sunday, noting that the district had no confirmed cases of COVID-19.
“This is meant as a deterrent and is the district being pro-active,” Albert wrote, adding that the district would keep the community updated via its website, school messenger service and local media. “Also please understand that this decision was not made lightly as I understand the burden that it will put on many of our families in our community.”
Albert indicated in the letter that, beginning Tuesday, the district would be feeding area students with bagged breakfasts and lunches at locations throughout the district’s three towns. Those locations and times will be released Monday afternoon.
RSU 9 administrators indicated Sunday that its schools would be closed to students from March 16 through March 27 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In order to organize our staff, we will meet tomorrow to review procedures,” the notice on the district’s Facebook site read. “We understand that families will have questions. We will reach out as soon as we have more details to share.”
Local districts have already cancelled non-school functions making use of their facilities as well as extracurricular events and restricted building access to non-employees. All local superintendents have indicated that they remain in contact with state officials regarding COVID-19.
Remote learning resources are available via Scholastic at the following: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome/grades-prek-k.html?fbclid=IwAR2YeUi-yabMCarhOu9d0B85_vKqVSgknCdnKjKKEJ2_H6ZdwLbkNEBhVaA
Donna not everyone has internet available or the means to utilize it at their home’s.
I agree with Travis.
Please check with your local internet providers. Many (like SPECTRUM) are opening up access to families without internet service so that students can take advantage of remote learning resources. Also, ask your local schools about WIFI hot spots.
I believe that Spectrum is offering free connection and service right now.
https://wgme.com/news/coronavirus/spectrum-to-offer-free-internet-access-for-students-due-to-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR2CphsNJBIcqtYleHqX7U_XwOjbDIi4UsRI2i7X5JPUmu1ZtPzuAFKDmU4
How is a WIFI hot spot or a remote learning center any different than a school when it comes to isolation?
The hysteria is real folks. The scary symptoms of Corona and what little information on this virus is in the link. What a way to scare people into a frenzy. https://g.co/kgs/7dawsk
Even if ISP are providing access, some homes simply aren’t wired.
Hotspots! Really? Well that just makes so much sense. Let’s close the schools for fear of exposure, then send the kids out into a public to a Hotspot for internet. Who’s the lame brain that came up with this idea?
I live in Phillips in with no phone service at home, no internet, and no means to get it. Our phones barely work to get texts through, certainly not well enough to connect and learn. There is no free service available to some in our communities. Thankfully I don’t have school age kids at home, but I feel really sorry for those that do. This is craziness.
We are chartering on new territory. Many schools have meetings today to discuss the options. There are more options than online learning. It won’t be perfect.
Yes, people are panicked. I think it is mostly out of the unknown. Band together, help your neighbor. Poor attitudes will only make things worse.
Last August the republicans in the state legislature voted down a bond issue to help fund broadband internet service for more than 83,000 locations in rural Maine. That was an opportunity to provide a much-needed boost to businesses, entrepreneurs, and homeschooling in rural locations. And now, with this pandemic, we see how short-sighted that vote really was. Our schools are now struggling to provide a safe way to provide ongoing classes for our children. It seems ridiculous that in this day and age we are unable to provide 20-year-old technology to every home in Maine that can afford it.
So before folks complain about the SAD 9 plan to use WIFI Hot Spots, perhaps they should consider the ramifications of the choice their republican reps made when they voted down that particular bond issue.
Wash your hands everyone and good luck.
It apparently takes a terrible event to highlight the need for fast broadband in rural Maine.
Jane Dough….
The lame brain is not whoever came up with the idea but the person that doesn’t know what a hotspot is or that there is probably one available on your own cell phone. Many folks in this area operate their pc’s and laptops on a hotspot in the comfort of their own homes. Try googling it.
Marie E. The majority of the people that don’t have the internet in this area is because they cant afford it so the last thing we need is a incentive program for private businesses to bring a product to our area that they are going to charge us for that will be funded with tax dollars. Imo
As far as hotspots go, if people don’t have a cell phone with that capability, it’s also usually possible to sit outside a place with Wifi open to the public (or their customers) and get the signal. As long as the weather’s warm, it’s quite pleasant to sit in one’s car, and I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t mind under these unusual circumstances.
For the next 60 days, Spectrum is offering free internet for all students who are required to stay home from school. To register call 1-844-488-8395. All installation fees are being waived.
If you have a cell phone, you have access to the internet and can access a free service like this from the privacy of your own home (remote learning).
I am often in areas where fast broadband coverage simply is NOT AVAILABLE, be it affordable or otherwise.
Yes cause this is the best time to be advocating for high speed broadband. Why don’t we focus on making sure the kids are safe and have adequate food instead of worrying about a little school work they are going to miss.
If folks will continue to monitor the updates on DAILY BULLDOG, they will find that this is a constantly changing situation. These are uncertain times with no real protocol in place. So many local and national companies are stepping up to fill the various gaps left by the closing of schools. Instead of whining about what you don’t have, why not be part of the solution. Step up and see what you can do to be part of the solution.
When schools open again it may be the appropriate time to end the late start/ early-release day that has by far outlasted its original purpose and usefulness. The time in class/school will help the students get caught up on missed studies and will certainly be appreciated by many parents who work all day and have had one more hardship added to their daily routine.Some teachers agree with returning to five full days of instruction and the interrupted day as a waste of time. Just a thought……anyone else agree?
@6th Gen Me., there are a bunch of companies already putting satellites into orbit to create a new high speed internet offering. Why not let the private sector take care of it instead of spending tax payer money on it?
I have raged against this indirect requirement for internet for years. We pay for the state and the schools to have it so they can turn around and tell us we have to pay for it again at our homes. Many older people do not own one and many can not afford to pay for one say nothing of the monthly fee. Go to your public library was their excuse. Shut the schools down and make up the time like they use to do and stop preaching about this computer BS.
When all of this covid 19 started across the pond in China, Italy and other countries, when China and Italy totally shut down, our leaders here should have been proactive. However,”their its not going to happen here attitude,” failed and suddenly we have to deal with it, all decisions have now become reactive. The state as well as school districts and local government should have had conversations weeks ago, even on a what if scenario. But our leaders are ill equipped to thinking ahead, and now all decisions are made reactionary. As our leaders flounder around trying to make decisions, that in itself causes panic of the unknown.
The local schools are taking appropriate measures and will be coming up with alternative ways to get things done. We don’t need to freak out after two days of not being at school. There is ample things to learn while out that doesn’t require technology. My kids are learning still they are doing math while working around the house. They are learning how to not be dependent on technology and grow food and gather resources. If this is as bad as people keep making it sound then we will need food not computers. Calm down people get some fresh air and get things done before summer hits.
Jordan this is only being reacted to this way because of the drama spun by social media and msm. Our leaders are reacting and have been since early January in an appropriate manner. Your name calling and ridicule isn’t needed it is just adding to the hysteria by spreading the same false info as msm. Have a great day stay calm and get some fresh air. Don’t forget to wash your hands.
I understand and sympathize JS Kennedy’s dislike of relying on the internet. I think, though, the information revolution has altered our culture and society, making the internet essential. We need to treat it like we dealt with electricity and the telephone in the 20th Century, when a move was made to make sure that everyone was connected, no matter how poor or rural. I’d make internet connection, at least at the basic level, a public utility with access guaranteed to the poor. Like it or not, kids with the internet are going to have advantages that those without lack. It should not create unequal opportunity.
That said, I also agree with “Awww,” that we should use this to not be dependent on technology either, and recognize the variety of things that can be achieved without. I still prefer to add, subtract and multiply without a calculator – it keeps the mind sharp! As in everything, there is a question of balance – and more than giving our kids rules, I think we need to model that balance. So after I click submit, I’m getting offline for awhile!
@awww
Explain to me if our leaders have been working on this since early January, then why are we in this situation now?
@Jordan I agree.
How is it that the US is in reactionary mode to the current global pandemic? In 2018, the Trump administration , amid warnings from public health officials that a 2020 outbreak of a new coronavirus could soon become a pandemic involving the U.S, fired the executive branch team responsible for coordinating a response to a pandemic and didn’t replace them. That’s how we got here.
Jason look it up. The governor said last week her administration has been working on it since the end of las year and the federal level started on January 7th by stopping flights from China when he was blamed for being racist and blowing it out of proportion. Look it up. Yes the local schools have just started dealing with this and possibly could have been better handled but that is something you can bring up to them and not just be a keyboard warrior online. Perhaps you would be better suited for the job. If not let the professionals handle it and wash your bands and get some fresh air.
Sorry Awww, but your holding hands and singing kumbaya ain’t gonna cut it at this point.
Lay the blame for the probable surge in the elderly death count squarely at the feet of Donald Trump who wasted at least 6 weeks in failing to respond to this crisis.
The only false info was coming out of his mouth in downplaying and footdragging the gravity of the upcoming lack of icu beds, healthcare workers, respirators, and testing. This type of crisis requires a quick federal response. Too little too late.
This isn’t hysteria. This is what comes from electing the incompetent to gut and mismanage the national response to such a crisis. It’s on his head and those who elected him.
And I’m perfectly calm dude; calmer than you are.
https://www.factcheck.org/2020/03/trump-and-the-new-hoax/
Jane Dough
Angus King. His “laptops for all school children” idea didn’t take into account rural areas with no internet or homes without resources to afford WiFi. Call his office and ask him if he’s an advocate for broadband for ALL of Maine. He should have backburnered his wind turbines and put his “energy” into broadband, but it wouldn’t have been as profitable.
Luke shit off CNN and learn something, 6 weeks have not been wasted and what surge ? 60 deaths is now a surge? Whole cities are being forced into quarantine. They are testing a vaccine in Washington I believe it was near where the nursing home was where the 45 elderly with underlying health issues were. Did you hear about the 65 yr old woman from a cruise ship that beat Coronavirus? Probably not on CNN. Lastly read the article Mort posted and have a great day. Wash your hands.
One last thing read this. Not much info but then again there isn’t a lot of info just hysteria of the unknown. Wash your hands. https://g.co/kgs/NxUWiH