Trenton R-9 School District officials met on Tuesday, and have made the decision to cancel classes. Superintendent Michael Stegman provided details of the closure as well as safeguards established to ensure the safety of Trenton R-9 students.
Below is the letter to parents as published on the Trenton R-9 School District website.
Dear Parents, Students, Staff, Administrators, & Board of Education,
Dealing with the pandemic of COVID-19 has and is a very difficult situation for us all. As we move forward with this issue, we will all have to be diligent about our daily exposures and hygiene. Due to this pandemic closing in on us, Trenton R–IX will cancel all classes beginning March 23rd through April 3. Essentially, this will extend our spring break for two weeks, and school will resume on April 6. The school districts in Grundy County will convene on April 1st to determine the possibility of reopening schools. This action is being taken to limit the spread of the Coronavirus known as COVID -19.
In addition to all the school closings, all extra-curricular events, practices, and the use of Trenton R-IX property for social gatherings have been canceled or postponed. Preschool screenings are also postponed at this time. The buildings are to remain locked down during this time period. No one is to enter the facilities without prior authorization from Michael Stegman, Superintendent 660-359-3994, Kasey Bailey 660-359-2291, Daniel Gott 660-359–4328, or Tiffany Otto 660-359- 2228. The office hours for the building administrators will be from 8 am–10 am M-F throughout this closure. Staff & Patrons needing to pick-up items from your classrooms must first contact your building administrator to make arrangements to enter the building.
It is important that our students remain engaged academically during this extended school closing. Our staff will provide enhancement ideas and activities for the students to work on over this break. Please watch for other correspondence from the school to get information regarding these opportunities for your child. I anticipate your enhancement activities will become available by Tuesday, March 24. Please continue to monitor our website, and our school social media outlets as we continue to work through these uncharted waters.
The district understands the hardship this will likely place on families. One method we feel we can help soften the blow is to offer our school lunch program. Trenton R–IX will be making school lunch meals available in a grab and go format during the unscheduled school closure time period. Meals can only be provided to students and will be free of charge. The student should be present during the pick up to obtain a meal. Meals can be picked up in the circle drive in front of Trenton High School. We ask that vehicles line up in the drive and meals will be brought out to the vehicles. We ask that you stay in your vehicles, and meals will be brought out to you. No one will be allowed into the building for any reason. Meals need to ordered by calling the office at 660-359–4643 between 8:00 –9:30 am each morning. Pickup will run from 11:30-12:30 each day.
Thank you for your patience as we all work through this pandemic. We will do all that we can to help slow the transmission of this awful virus and get our students back to school with the education and activities that we need.
