Child Nutrition
Many Maine children depend on the food they receive during the school day. At this time, U. S. CDC guidance estimates school closures may last between 8 and 20 weeks, once community transmission is happening. This makes it even more important for schools to try and continue, to the best of their abilities, to provide consistent food services. The U.S. CDC has asked schools to ensure continuity of meal programs for students.  The U.S. CDC is not aware of any reports at this time of human illnesses that suggest COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging. However, it is always important to follow good hygiene practices (i.e., wash hands and surfaces often, separate raw meat from other foods, cook to the right temperature, and refrigerate foods promptly) when handling or preparing foods.

We are encouraging schools to continue their food service programs during this time. Practicing normal sanitation procedures for food service will help to keep all staff as safe and healthy as possible.  Use the following information to assist you in your work:

• Follow the three W’s: WASH HANDS, WASH HANDS, WASH HANDS.
• While hand sanitizers can be helpful they are NOT as effective as washing your hands. When hand washing be sure to use warm water.  Dry hands using disposable paper towels.
• Wear single use, disposable gloves when serving meals from any location, whether on site at your school or from a mobile unit. Remove and dispose of gloves after delivering meals to each mobile location.
• If distributing meals, be sure to take hand sanitizer with you to use as needed.
• If the school cafeteria will be open to distribute meals, follow normal sanitation practices.
• Environmental Cleaning & Disinfecting Guidance
• USDA Guidance on Food Service during COVID-19

Coolers will be required since “offer vs serve” is no longer an option and the cold items, especially milk, must be kept cool.  A suggestion is to place the coolers in the freezer or cooler overnight to help them maintain temperatures.  Only take out of the coolers the meals needed for distribution.  When returning from delivering meals be sure to clean and sanitize the coolers used.

Supplies
Supplies such as hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and masks are in short supply nation-wide. Our state does have a supply for emergencies such as this, but even that supply is expected to run low. The highest priority for fulfilling requests from this supply is for the healthcare setting such as hospitals, long term care facilities, emergency medical provider and other similar agencies. Since schools are no longer full of children, they are not even on the tiered system of distribution. Because of this, we request that you refrain from completing any “Resource Requests” at this time. Washing your hands with soap and water is the best prevention. And surfaces can be wiped down with other cleaning solutions rather than disposable wipes.

Reminders
We understand that many schools are still open and have staff in them preparing distance learning for students.  The halting of classroom-based instruction is to increase social distancing, which is difficult to do in hallways, classrooms and cafeterias filled with children. The school building itself is not unsafe, and adults can occupy this space if they follow the basics.  While staff are in your buildings, please enforce the general social distancing rules:

• Stop handshaking – use other noncontact methods of greeting
• Maintain distance of 6 feet when in the same room with others
• Avoid congregating in spaces with 10 or more people

Practice good hygiene:

• Clean hands at the door and schedule regular hand washing reminders by email
• Create habits and reminders to avoid touching their faces and cover coughs and sneezes
• Disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, desks, and handrails regularly
• Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning

The best thing that Maine people can do to protect their health is to practice social distancing and take the same preventive measures that avoid catching a cold: Wash your hands often for 20 seconds. Cover coughs and sneezes. Stay home if you are sick. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, shortness of breath, and lower respiratory distress. Call ahead to a health care professional if you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness.

As many Maine school districts are working proactively to protect students and educators amid the COVID-19 issue by either implementing non-traditional instruction or closing schools, the Maine DOE is actively working on behalf of Maine schools and students.

Due to school district closures at this time, the following has transpired:

• eMPowerME

The eMPowerME assessment administration window is closed.  Previously scheduled test sessions are not accessible within the portal.

• Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA)

The Department continues to work with MSAA member states to determine next steps regarding access and/or closing of the MSAA portal.

• SAT

The Department continues to have twice weekly calls with the College Board to determine next steps and possible impact to the SAT School Day administration on April 14.

• Science and Science Alternate Assessment (SAA)

The Assessment administration windows remain tentatively scheduled to open 3/30 (High School), 4/6 (SAA) and 4/27 (Grades 5 & 8) respectively. As these windows remain some time away the Department and assessment vendors will continue to assess and monitor the COVID-19 situation and determine next steps.

Impact to accountability:

Assessment administration & Accountability:

Per guidance received from the US Department of Education (USDOE) on Friday March 13, the Maine DOE will be seeking a targeted one-year waiver from the USDOE regarding assessment administration and applicable accountability requirements.

Chronic Absenteeism:

The Maine DOE will be seeking a targeted one-year waiver to remove the chronic absenteeism indicator from Maine’s Model of School Support however, the above mentioned waiver from the accountability requirements would supersede this waiver.

Thank you to our educators who are working so hard to care for our school communities. Please remain focused on your important work and know that we are working to get answers and ensure flexibility during this unprecedented time.

From Commissioner Pender Makin:

As determined by Governor Mills’ declaration of a civil emergency, we recommend that schools cease classroom based instruction as soon as practicable and for an indefinite period of time. Local communities may manage this in different ways in terms of scheduling time and logistical support for students and families to access belongings left at school and to receive remote or distance learning materials if applicable.

Schools will also have local flexibility in terms of offering remote schooldays as possible and in terms of any decisions to keep school buildings open for staff and for teachers to plan and conduct remote lessons. The point of this is to align with social distancing guidance which include avoiding large groups.

School superintendents across the state have been making extremely difficult decisions during the past several days. They have had to weigh the medical guidance from Maine and the National CDC with the unique needs and capacities of their individual communities and they have received calls from all sides of this issue. Their equally courageous recent decisions to close or not to close have been made with extreme care and under unprecedentedly challenging circumstances, and with the best interests and well-being of their students and communities at the absolute center.

• The closing of schools does not have to mean that buildings are not open, but rather that there is a significant reduction in the number of people in any given space.
• We encourage schools to do their best to provide activities that will keep students engaged, challenged, and learning. Plans for “remote” school days may be approved by district administrators and school boards. We also want you to know that we will be flexible with waivers on the required number of school days.
• We applied for, and have received, federal waivers that will allow for the provision of meals to students who need them, and we will be meeting with additional funding to supplement where the waiver program is insufficient.
• Maine Department of Education is collecting resources and information to supplement what schools already have in place with respect to providing teachers, families, and caregivers with guidance on how to support remote learning programs.
• We also have resources available on our website to help all to talk with children about this uncertain and scary time.
• We want to assure all that Maine DOE, along with many other states, is seeking flexibility from the US Dept of Education regarding mandatory assessments and accountability measures.

Please continue to check our website for continually updated resources and information, found at https://www.maine.gov/doe/covid-19.