READ IMMEDIATELY regarding staff at school
Dear Superintendent,
Several alarming communications from districts have been brought to my attention regarding gatherings of staff and teachers at your schools in the coming weeks. This must stop. These type of gatherings for any reason violate both the letter and spirit of the action that the State Board of Education took on March 16.
This means that effective March 16, the State Board of Education has prohibited public school staff trainings, staff meetings and professional development activities until at least April 6, 2020, a closure period that will likely be extended by the State Board upon review of the public health conditions in Oklahoma.
Now is the time for defensive measures to keep our students, staff and communities safe and at home. I need your help to reinforce this message immediately.
Gatherings that many of you might be planning defeat the entire purpose of the action taken by the Board. DO NOT for any reason hold a gathering of teachers at your school site to plan for activities post-April 6. DO NOT for any reason require non-essential support staff to come to school until further notice.
The only personnel who should be coming to a school during this time are those essential to clerical and administrative functions assisting with child nutrition, payroll and billing.
We are all concerned for the loss of hours for support staff. We are actively working on a swift remedy. For now, we encourage you to liberally allocate additional sick days for your support staff as some districts have already done. Many of you are also concerned about how learning will continue in the weeks to come. We are working to provide state level guidance and support in the coming days.
Our school families must do our part to stem the spread of this virus. It is critical that you take this period of cessation of the operation of schools seriously for the health and safety of all Oklahomans.
Sincerely,
Joy Hofmeister
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
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