Jackson Public Schools Extends Spring Break in Response to Coronavirus Concerns

On Saturday, March 14, 2020, Governor Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency and recommended state-wide school closings. Accordingly, Jackson Public Schools has extended its Spring Break through Friday, March 27. All schools and District offices will remain closed. Athletic and extracurricular events and practices have been canceled during this extended closure. District leaders will continue to monitor this rapidly evolving situation, coordinating with state and local officials (to include any time that might need to be made up and to address issues related to accountability), and will revise our plans as necessary. Parents and guardians are urged to make contingency plans for their children while the District is closed for this extended period of time. Please visit the JPS website for resources to support learning at home and meal distributions.

Please Note:

The Board of Trustees will meet on Tuesday, March 17, by teleconference only. Board members will not meet in person but will call in to conduct the meeting remotely. More details will be available prior to the meeting.

All school-related, non-essential large gatherings are suspended until further notice. This includes the following:

• JPS Job Fair on Saturday, March 21
• JPS Parent Math and Science Night on Thursday, March 26

Check the JPS website (www.jackson.k12.ms.us) daily for other District cancellations and postponements.

When District operations resume, we will implement the precautionary measures recommended by the Mississippi State Health Department (MSHD) at all schools and building sites. This includes reducing large lunch gatherings and suspending school-wide assemblies, field trips and all other similar activities. We are seeking guidance from the Mississippi High School Activities Association to determine how the scheduling of athletic events and extracurricular activities will be handled. However, we reserve the right to postpone any contest or competition.

Our Facilities team will continue to thoroughly clean and disinfect our school buildings and offices. They will also monitor and refill our supply of liquid soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfectants.

Our Transportation team will clean seats and other high traffic areas inside our buses daily.

The safety and health of our scholars and staff is our top priority. Below are some helpful tips our parents should follow to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

• Keep your child home if they are sick. Their absence will be excused with a doctor’s note or a note from the parent.
• Encourage your child to maintain good hygiene by washing their hands with soap and water and covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing.
• Remind them to avoid touching their eyes, mouth and nose.
• Clean surfaces and objects that are touched frequently.
• Keep backpacks clean. School backpacks can carry germs so you should clean out your child’s backpack regularly. Consider using a wet cloth or sanitary wipe.

While this remains an evolving public health concern, we will continue to monitor the latest developments and collaborate with the Mississippi Department of Education, the Mississippi State Department of Health, and the City of Jackson as we respond to the health and safety concerns associated with Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Thank you for your understanding as we seek to protect the safety and well-being of our scholars and staff members.

For more information, please refer to MSDH’s website at https://msdh.ms.gov/.

You may also visit our website, www.jackson.k12.ms.us, and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for the latest information.