Families of students at Franklin schools drove by signs asking them to stay in their cars, as food service workers handed handed out packaged meals, along with large bags of surplus lettuce, Monday at Northwood Elementary School.
School was supposed to be in session this week, but Monday marked the first day of extended closures for four school districts in Johnson County due to growing concerns about the spread of COVID-19, more commonly known as coronavirus, a viral pandemic that has now infected 24 Hoosiers, including three Johnson County residents, and killed one, according to the Indiana State Department of Health.
Coronavirus affects the respiratory system and can cause fever, sore throat, coughing and shortness of breath, according to the World Health Organization.
More than 260 Franklin families lined up Monday to pick up food at Northwood. Franklin schools won’t be back in session until April 5, at the earliest. School administrators want to make sure parents who rely on the schools to feed their children still have options.
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Three other Johnson County school districts are also continuing to provide free meals for students in the wake of the virus outbreak that has shuttered schools through the end of the month, and it’s not limited to students who qualify for free- or reduced-price meals.
While Edinburgh and Greenwood schools are on spring break, the other four public school districts in the county—Franklin, Center Grove, Clark-Pleasant and Indian Creek schools—have moved to online learning, keeping students out of school. To help families who might not be able to provide extra meals for their children, all four of those districts are providing free meals for families to pick up from designated locations.
Franklin schools will provide four days’ worth of breakfasts and lunches from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today at Northwood, said Jill Overton, food services director.
At Indian Creek schools, parents have until midnight to fill out an online survey indicating interest in picking up food for the remainder of the week. People without internet access can call the district’s food service hotline, according to a letter sent to families.
Clark-Pleasant Community Schools, which will be on spring break from Saturday to April 5, is also providing meals to students younger than 18 years old at Clark-Pleasant Middle School. The meals began today and will also be offered from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday and Friday, Superintendent Patrick Spray said in a video posted to the school’s social media pages.
“This is an unprecedented situation,” Spray said in the video. “Food scarcity is an issue for many families and we are committed to meeting those needs in our community, even in this difficult time going forward.”
Center Grove Community Schools distributed food in bags to families of Center Grove students on Monday at Sugar Grove Elementary School. All leftover food was taken to Mount Pleasant Christian Church, according to an email the school district sent to families.
Another concern for families in which both parents work is childcare.
At least three daycare centers in Johnson County remain open. Both Center Grove KinderCare and Childtime of Whiteland will remain open and hold regular hours, officials at both centers said.
Childtime will remain open, but will closely monitor suggestions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as local and state health departments, Learning Care Group spokesperson Lydia Cisaruk said in an email Friday.
Childtime is a daycare center owned by Learning Care Group.
“If a child or teacher at our school was diagnosed with COVID-19, we would close immediately and follow guidance from the state and local health departments,” she said.
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Parents can pick up food for their children at the following locations
CLARK-PLEASANT
Wednesday and Friday, Clark-Pleasant Middle School, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
INDIAN CREEK
Today, upper drive outside the middle/high school cafeteria 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. under the outside canopy. Parents must have registered online.
FRANKLIN
Today, Northwood Elementary School, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
CHILDCARE
Childtime of Whiteland, which serves children six weeks to 12 years old, is open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Center Grove KinderCare, which serves children six weeks to 12 years old, is open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Discovery Child Development Center, which serves children six weeks to 5 years old, is open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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