White Co. Prepares to Assist Students During Closure

White County Schools will close through March 6 because of the coronavirus.

Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the district is not forgetting about some of their vulnerable students.

“We are going to try to provide food service for students starting on the week of March 30,” Dronebarger said. “By statute we can’t serve that during Spring Break, which will be next week, but we are sending food home this week. We won’t serve it next week during Spring Break, but the following week we going to provide food service at the individual schools.”

Dronebarger said the schools are also concerned with the student’s academics, as well.

“We are going to provide online services for those that have that access,” Dronebarger said. “We’re also providing packets of grade-level specific information for students at every other level. We’re just trying to make the best of this difficult situation.”

Dronebarger said that he and other school directors are in uncharted territory with the length of time schools will be closed. He said at this point they are thinking about the day-to-day needs of the children, but any long-term closures would be a challenge for schools.

“The way we’re looking at things right now is that we’re looking at what our infrastructure can handle,” Dronebarger said. “We’re kind of taking this one day at a time. We’re trying to take care of the next three weeks, and beyond that we’re really going to have to face a challenge.”

White County Schools will be closed March 18 to April 6. Dronebarger said they would reevaluate closing for any extra time based on government recommendations.