April 14 Update

Meal Distribution Sites/Times for week of April 13th

The Rock Worship Center, The Dream Center and The Manna House are leading the Curbside Meal Distribution Program for the youth in our community.

The following sites will be serving FREE meals to any youth 18 yrs. of age and under from 10:30am-12:30pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday:

Lee High School

Lakewood Elementary

Chaffee Elementary

Ridgecrest Elementary

McDonnell Elementary

A Note from Community Partners on Parent/Guardian Meal Pickup Policy

If there are no children in the car; the parent/guardian MUST present an official document that contains the child's name. This can include one of the following:

Official Document List

Report Card

Pediatrician/Doctors office paperwork containing child's name

Birth Certificate or Passport

Daycare or school paperwork

A picture of the child does not suffice as an official document.

April 13 Update

Huntsville City Schools (HCS) is marking one week since beginning instruction under the district’s new Blended Learning Plan on Tuesday, April 7, 2020.

As part of the Blended Learning Plan, administrators’ goal was to use familiar platforms in which students were already comfortable in order to create a positive experience for families as well.

Teachers across the district hosted online Blended Learning Open House events on Monday, April 6, 2020. These online events provided students and families the opportunity to reconnect with students and outline plans for the remainder of the school year.

HCS encourages students and families to continue to use services the district is offering including curbside WiFi within 300 yards of all school campuses thanks to a partnership with ADTRAN and Huntsville Utilities, WiFi-equipped buses across the community supported in partnership with The Apple Bus Company, and meal service locations being served by The Rock City Church and Manna House. Learn more about these offerings by visiting the Blended Learning Plan.

April 9 Update

Huntsville City Schools (HCS) is eliminating waste by donating perishable food items that were not being served during the district's period of Blended Learning.

HCS provided the North Alabama Food Bank with nearly 40 pallets of fruits and vegetables from kitchens across the district.

"This gives us an opportunity to re-purpose that food and get it out to our community," said Henry Ward, HCS Child Nutrition Program Director. "It also allows us to continue to give our young people nutritious meals."

The district continues to follow guidance from the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) who granted approval to school systems to provide items to local food banks.

April 7 Update

Huntsville City Schools would like to extend its gratitude to the following churches for supporting the curbside meal distribution service for the youth in our community:

Rock Family Worship Center

Mayfair Church of Christ

First United Methodist - Huntsville

Aldersgate Methodist

The Dwelling Place

St. Thomas Episcopal

St. Johns AME

UNION HILL Primitive Baptist

Progressive Union Primitive Baptist

Southwood Presbyterian

Church of the Highlands

Trinity Methodist

St. Matthews Episcopal

April 6 Update

Huntsville City Schools (HCS) administrators received notification of two new coronavirus cases involving a student and a teacher.

Both tested positive approximately two weeks after students were already dismissed on Friday, March 13, 2020. Neither of the impacted individuals were in direct contact with any students, and no students are believed to be at risk of exposure.

A teacher at Mae C. Jemison High School contracted the virus following community exposure. HCS encourages faculty or staff members who may have been at the school on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 to monitor for coronavirus symptoms.

A student at Farley Elementary contracted the virus without ever being in contact with other students or staff members.

HCS continues to encourage students, families, and faculty and staff members to monitor for the following symptoms:

Fever

Cough

Body aches

Shortness of breath

Anyone who develops one or more of these symptoms should call a medical professional, nearest urgent care or the Alabama COVID-19 24/7 hotline at 1-888-264-2256 for guidance. If shortness of breath is severe, seek emergency treatment via an emergency department (please call ahead) or 911 to make them aware of potential exposure.

HCS asks anyone within the district who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 to contact HCS Health Services Coordinator Andrea Penn by calling 256-428-6835 and emailing andrea.penn@hsv-k12.org.

Meal Distribution Sites/Times for week of April 6th

The Rock Worship Center, The Dream Center and The Manna House are leading the Curbside Meal Distribution Program for the youth in our community.

The following sites will be serving FREE meals to any youth 18 yrs. of age and under from 10:30am-12:30pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday:

Lee High School

Lakewood Elementary

Chaffee Elementary

Ridgecrest Elementary

McDonnell Elementary

April 2 Update

Thanks to two corporate partners, Huntsville City Schools (HCS) will be extending the WiFi range outside every school campus for students to access the internet while schools are closed.

ADTRAN will be providing students at the district's more than 40 schools with the ability to receive WiFi within 300 yards outside each school building. Huntsville Utilities crews are supporting the district by working with ADTRAN and the HCS I.T. team to complete the installations.

Superintendent Christie Finley and representatives from both organizations made the announcement during a virtual press conference on Wednesday.

"Unprecedented times call for unprecedented ideas," Finley said. "We thank both ADTRAN and Huntsville Utilities for answering that call with this significant investment in the students of Huntsville City Schools."

Crews are working to have the installations completed if weather permits prior to the district's first day of blended learning on Monday, April 6, 2020.

"The teams and volunteers are working hard to finish the project so that our community's children can finish this school year online," said Gary Bolton, Vice President of Global Marketing at ADTRAN. "It's another wonderful Huntsville community effort."

McDonnell Elementary marked the first school where the installation was completed on Wednesday.

"Nobody can mobilize like we can, and nobody is more ready to serve our community than we are, said Joe Gehrdes, Director of Community Relations at Huntsville Utilities. "The men and women at Huntsville Utilities are very happy to be part of this project, very happy to support the students in Huntsville, and we hope this helps solve a problem for them and Huntsville City Schools moving forward."

April 1 Update

Huntsville City Schools (HCS) leaders are continuing to work in conjunction with health officials after learning a second HCS employee has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). The second confirmed case involves a teacher at Huntsville Junior High School.

HCS notified families and staff members at the school. The last known date the teacher was at school was Monday, March 16, 2020.

Families are encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms of coronavirus including fever, dry cough, body aches and shortness of breath.

Additionally, families are recommended to continue practicing social distancing by remaining at home unless it involves work or obtaining essential items such as food and medicine. Anyone exhibiting one or more of these symptoms should call a medical professional immediately.

Any HCS families who receive a positive test for COVID-19 are asked to contact HCS Nursing Coordinator, Andrea Penn.

Connect with HCS on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and here on the contingency plan page for official district updates.