March 21, 2020

Dear HBSD Families,

I hope this email finds you well. I know that there are many questions right now and I will do my best to answer the most pressing ones right now.

1. Governor Dunleavy closed Alaska's schools closed through May 1. Next week our staff will be working on providing distance learning for students that we hope to be "live" on March 30. So, school will be in session on March 30, but it will be different and at home. There are no academic expectations for your student next week.

2. Lunch service will be available to all children through age 18 beginning on Monday. I will have directions and procedures for that process for you on Sunday.

3. Our staff will be working next week, but almost all of it will be from home. Please know that we will comply with state and local directives in that regard.

This situation is very fluid and changes hourly it seems. I will provide updates to our district website, Facebook page, through email, and Bloomz. While repetitive, it is important that you all get important information.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. I appreciate all of your efforts to work together for the Haines community.

Roy Getchell

Dear HBSD Families,

Lunch service for any child through age 18 will begin on Monday, March 23 at two locations:

1. Haines School (11:30 - 12:30) Cars will enter the school driveway at the gym/pool end and form a single-file line stopping at the main entrance.

2. Mosquito Lake (Klehini) Fire Station (12:00 -12:30)

Cars will form a single file line in the "loop". Please follow the directions of our staff and do not block the entrance to the station.

Details:

* Please stay in your car! Staff will deliver sack lunches with gloved hands to the front passenger window.

* Lunches are at no cost for ANY child (even if you normally pay full or reduced fees) as we received a special waiver from the Alaska Department of Education and the USDA.

* We hope to have RSVP's to better predict future needs. Please log-in and sign up for your lunches here by completing this weekly survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScj1qW-S_m6-jBxEkZkiYRkMUy2VzQ5-k6jrYfau3u4wGcFtw/viewform

* While we are confident that we will make enough lunches daily, availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

I appreciate all of your support with this, especially of our child nutrition/kitchen staff. We anticipate some "bumps in the road" for sure but are confident that we'll soon settle into this procedure.

Take care,

Roy Getchell