Submitted by Denair Unified School District:

The COVID-19 pandemic may have closed down campuses for the rest of this school year, but learning still will occur in the Denair Unified School District. It will just take a much different form, district trustees were told Thursday night at a board meeting that itself reflected the social distancing required to confront the threat from the virus.

Only Superintendent Terry Metzger and Trustees Crystal Sousa, Ray Prock Jr., Carmen Wilson and Regina Gomes gathered in the board meeting room at the district office. They all were separated by at least 6 feet. Trustee Kathi Dunham-Filson and student board member Logan Pierce participated via Zoom video conference as did other administrators, teachers, staff and community members.

Predictably, much of the focus of the meeting was on the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on Denair’s 1,300 preschool through 12^th-grade students as well as the staff. Metzger spoke at length about what has happened in the three weeks since Stanislaus County health officials shut down all public schools March 19 as well as what Denair students and parents should expect when distance learning begins April 20 after spring break.

The key takeaways: There still will be grades, computers will be made available to those students who need them, meals will be provided to those who need them and emphasis will be placed on students “completing the concepts” of the courses they’re studying.

Submitted by Denair Unified School District:

This month’s meeting of the Denair Unified Board of Trustees will take a very different form, thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

With social distancing recommendations and the safety of staff and the public firmly in mind, the board will rely on technology to satisfy its regular meeting requirement.

Only Superintendent Terry Metzger and the five board members will physically meet at the district office Thursday night. Principals, other staff members, the student board member and the public will be able to participate via a Zoom connection that will go live at 7 p.m.

Zoom allows those who sign up to see and hear everything the trustees do as well as offer comment. It also provides a way for the management team who typically would present information in person to interact remotely.

“All of our board meetings are open to the public,” said Metzger. “We’re happy that we are able to use technology as a tool to allow us to follow the Stanislaus County public health officer’s guidelines and still engage the community in our meetings.”

Denair Unified – like the other 24 public school districts in the county – has cancelled classes the rest of this school year over coronavirus concerns.

Among the highlights on Thursday’s agenda will be Metzger’s report on the district’s plans to begin distance learning via computer on April 20, when spring break is over. Other items to be discussed include proposed new math and ag courses at Denair High School, a charter extension for Denair Elementary Charter Academy, and a tentative contract agreement between the district and the California School Employees Association, which represents all non-teachers.

Submitted by Denair Unified School District:

There are options for families in the Denair Unified School District who need Internet access so their children can participate in distance learning.

The California Department of Education has created a link to information about free or low-cost Internet options for families. Those interested also can click on the following links to learn more about specific Internet providers.

• AT&T
• Comcast/Xfinity
• Cox
• Spectrum/Charter
• Sprint/T-mobile (Hotspots)
• T-Mobile (Hotspots)

Denair joined 24 other Stanislaus County school districts in closing its campuses March 19 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Initially, it was hoped that classes could resume April 20 after spring break. Health officials pushed that date back to May 4 and then last week announced schools would not re-open during this school year.

Teachers on Denair’s four campuses sent enough printed and online enrichment work for students to last through this week. In a letter Friday to all Denair families, Superintendent Terry Metzger said the district now is transitioning to distance learning for more than 1,300 students after spring break.

To do that requires Internet access at home, something not all families have.

“Now that we know schools will be closed until the end of the school year, teachers and staff are preparing distance learning for the remainder of the school year,” Metzger wrote in her letter. “This work will be delivered electronically or through pick-up/delivery. Each school will communicate the specific details for their students, but parents should expect work beginning April 20.”

Submitted by: Jeffrey Lewis, Email: jeffrey@emchf.org

TURLOCK, Calif. – EMC Health Foundation and United Samaritans Foundation have launched Prescription Plus, a program dedicated to helping the working families pay for needed prescription medication.

Today, middle-class families are feeling the combined impact of health insurance companies and the Coronavirus as they try to survive and purchase needed life-sustaining medications.

Many people already unable to afford their medications because of health insurers requiring them to pay higher and higher copays, and an alarming number of people suddenly finding themselves unemployed or working limited hours because of the Coronavirus pandemic. The numbers of people with chronic conditions that cannot afford to fill or refill their medications continue to grow. Also, families facing sickness during the shelter at home period may not have the funds available to pick up medication for themselves or their children.

Prescription Plus was created to help cover some of the costs of these needed medications.  The program is designed to help the uninsured and people with health insurance who find it difficult to afford their medication during April 2020.

“Our valley is facing a health and economic crisis. We are living in a time when people are creative in how they will get through the next few hours, days, weeks, and months, and it’s critical that people can afford their regular medications. When relief is essential to the wellbeing of families, waiting for the bureaucracy to catch up will be too long. Our goal is to keep people healthy, out of the hospital and free from fear of not being able to afford their medications.  This is a wonderful way to reinvest charitable dollars into our community as we strive to demonstrate a servant’s heart.” Jeffrey Lewis, President and CEO of EMC Health Foundation, says.

“This is an epic time in our lives.  There is help for those in need, so do not let your health costs override your health needs. This partnership of care is meant to make a difference, so let us help you if we can.” Linda Murphy-Julien, Executive Director United Samaritans Foundation.

The program serves residents who live in the surrounding 19 zip codes and do not qualify for Medi-Cal or Medicare and have an income of less than 300% of the federal poverty level.

Submitted by Denair Unified School District:

A school district is a place to learn lessons and so it was for the Denair Unified School District food service staff after the first two days of free meal pickup.

With all four campuses shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, Denair – like other public school districts – still must provide free breakfasts and lunches to each of its 1,300 students who want one.

For context, the district typically serves up to 400 free breakfasts and as many as 700 lunches when class is in session. The school closures put all that into flux.

Initially, Denair announced a plan to hand out meals twice daily in a drive-through system in the middle school parking lot.

Thursday, only eight breakfasts and 39 lunches were served. A robocall Thursday night to all parents in the district reminding them of the service boosted the numbers to 20 breakfasts and 98 lunches Friday.

Slight progress for sure, but district officials believe there still is room for improvement to meet the food and nutritional needs of many children.

Beginning Monday, an even more convenient and streamlined service will be put in place. Breakfast will be available for pickup from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., and then between 10:30 a.m. and noon lunch for that day as well as breakfast for the next day will be handed out.

Both meals will be distributed Tuesdays through Thursdays between 10:30 a.m. and noon, and only lunch will be provided during the same time on Fridays.

Also next week, two remote delivery sites will be added Monday through Friday:

• Denair Friends Church, 4033 N. Gratton Road, from 10:35 to 10:55 a.m.
• Olsen’s Fabricating, 5906 N. Montpelier Road, from 11:05 to 11:25  a.m.