Like clockwork

Five hundred fifty-one meals.

That was the count from the opening day of food service Wednesday from Jay School Corporation during the extended school closure.

Superintendent Jeremy Gulley had nothing but praise for the food service workers, bus drivers and others who are implementing the “grab and go” lunch program.

“Clockwork,” he said, evaluating how the first day of service went. He added that the corporation did a practice run Tuesday before going live Wednesday. “Magnificent bus drivers and food service. … Chartwells … magnificent.”

The meals were the next step in the process that is following with teacher training and preparation for extended e-learning today and a live stream with Gulley Friday. Also Wednesday, Fort Recovery Local Schools provided additional details about its “emergency remote learning” and John Jay Center for Learning offered up guidance for free Wi-Fi access.

Jay Schools set continuing to provide food service as one of its priorities when announcing last week that schools would be closed through April 10. The first step of that process was to survey parents to try to get a count of how many meals would be needed.

Wednesday’s service was double what the initial survey showed. That included 228 meals at East Jay Middle School, 107 at Westlawn Elementary, 92 at Redkey Elementary, 60 at Bloomfield Elementary, 36 at Jay County High School and 28 at the former Pennville Elementary School.

With a successful first day completed, Gulley is considering a “bulk feeding” model in which students would be able to pick up five breakfasts and five lunches in one trip. A blended model — bulk feeding and individual meal options — is also a possibility.

“Here’s the commitment, we’re going to feed your kids on spring break,” said Gulley.

Parents are asked to fill out an online food service order form — bit.ly/JCfoodservice — by 8 p.m. each day to order food for the next day. The information is designed to help Chartwells provide the correct amount of meals at each location each day.



Information on the traffic flow and specific pick-up site at each school is available at bit.ly/JCtrafficflow.

With the three days of e-learning that were planned in advance complete, students are on waiver days today and Friday ahead of spring break next week. But for teachers, today is a work day.

Katie Clark, the corporation’s tech trainer, and teachers who have been trained as tech coaches had professional development opportunities prepared. Teachers throughout the corporation can come in to school to receive support and advice on best practices or receive that information electronically.

“They’ve been preparing that so our teachers are supported to get to week three and week four,” said Gulley, referencing the rotating e-learning and waiver days that will follow spring break. “(Today) and Friday, that’s the focus. That’s why we didn’t do e-learning those two days.”

Gulley will hold his live stream to parents and the community at 2 p.m. Friday. It will include an update for parents on what is coming up for the school corporation and an opportunity to ask questions.

The superintendent emphasized the importance of communication as the coronavirus puts everyone in uncharted territory.

“I think we need to lead by example,” said Gulley “Our teachers are being asked to use new tools, new ways of teaching. … And communication is important. And it’s two-way. We need to connect people virtually. …

“I think if we’re talking and we’re sharing, that will make it better.”

The live stream, through Google Hangouts Meet, can be viewed at bit.ly/GulleyLive. To ask a question in advance, go to bit.ly/AskGulley.



The session will be recorded and posted to the Jay Schools page on Facebook for those who are unavailable to watch it live.

“And if it doesn’t work, we’re going to do it again.”

Fort Recovery Local Schools is holding its first day of “extended remote learning” today. Kindergarten through second graders received printed materials before leaving school Monday, third through eighth graders are utilizing Google Classroom and high school students are using a variety of online systems, including Google Classroom.

Students have online access to teachers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Those who have technical issues can click on “technology repair requests” on the right side of the Fort Recovery Local Schools remote emergency learning page at bit.ly/FRLSCOVID.



Also, Wednesday, John Jay Center for Learning provided guidance for free Wi-Fi options. Comcast Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots are now being made available for free to everyone. A map of hotspots — they are available in Portland, Dunkirk, Redkey, Pennville, Bryant, Fort Recovery, Geneva and Ridgeville — is available at xfinity.com/wifi.

John Jay will also offer Wi-Fi for free, which can be accessed even after hours from outside the building. Users should join the “JJCL Public” network and use the password “feedthepig.”

Portland’s branch of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles closed indefinitely.

Mercer County Health District announced that a COVID-19 call center would be open beginning today. The call center is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily at (567) 890-2619.

Mercer Health also has a COVID-19 drive-thru testing center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the fairgrounds, 1001 W. Market St., Celina, Ohio. Those interested must get an initial screening and an order for a test from a primary care physician before going to the drive-thru center.

IU Health’s free virtual clinic for COVID-19 screenings is available at iuhealthvideovisit.org or the IU Health Virtual Visits app. For a virtual screening, then select “Coronavirus Screen.”