NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Governor Lee announced his recommendation for Tennessee schools to remain closed through the rest of the year.
“We want to make sure there is flexibility for districts,” said Governor Lee. “We are committed to continuing to provide resources to keep students engaged.”
Schools must determine exactly how the end of the school year will look for their district. Testing, grades, and resources for families are all of critical importance for the school districts.
Resources are currently available online for all families through the CMCSS website. Students who do not have access to a home computer are able to receive printed copies of the resources as well.
“We must ensure our children continue learning,” said Penny Schwinn, Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Education. “We will open schools next year.”
“Being out of school this long also has implications for the well being of our students,” Schwinn continued. Time lost in the classroom impacts students beyond academics. Teachers often serve at the front lines to watch out for the needs of children.
The state confirmed today the creation of a COVID-19 Child Well-Being Task Force. The task force will work with local leaders and community organizations across the state to ensure the health and safety of Tennessee children while they are out of school. The task force will also provide a system of resources to check on vulnerable children in the communities.
The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System issue the following statement to parents following the Governor’s announcement:
Based on Governor Lee’s recommendation stated during his press conference this afternoon, all CMCSS schools will remain closed through the rest of the 2019-2020 school year. Our district will continue to be focused on providing social, emotional, and academic supports for students. The CMCSS Continued Learning Library will be updated so students can have the resources they need to stay engaged in learning, and our teachers and administrators will continue weekly calls to support students and close achievement gaps. Additionally, we will continue our meal distributions through May 22.
We understand that this closure affects more than just what happens during a typical school day. This difficult, unprecedented decision will have far-reaching implications, but it was ultimately made in the interest of keeping students, employees, families, and communities across Tennessee and this nation as safe and healthy as possible during this pandemic. District leadership will continue reviewing guidance from state and national agencies, and we are committed to providing timely updates to families over the coming weeks, including next steps for graduations, personal belongings left at schools, and other important topics.
Thank you for your continued understanding, patience, and support. This is not the school year any of us could have imagined. We will persevere through these challenges, staying strong for our children. Our faculty, staff, and administrators will be ready to greet students with smiling faces as we embark on the 2020-2021 school year in August, focused on ensuring all students graduate college and career ready no matter the challenges that lie ahead of us.