North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Dr. James Ellerbe, Superintendent
6301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-6301
919-807-3300
www.innovativeschooldistrict.org
March 18, 2020
Dear Parents and Families,
On Saturday, March 14, 2020, Governor Cooper issued an executive order to close all public schools in North Carolina to reduce transmission of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Therefore, all students were dismissed from Southside Ashpole Elementary School beginning on Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 29, 2020. This closure includes the afterschool programs as well as any event utilizing the school campus other than those expressly sanctioned by the Superintendent.
The Innovative School District believes that every student deserves access to relevant and engaging learning opportunities each day. While we cannot replace the value our teachers provide in the classroom, students have been provided with supplemental resources and activities to keep them engaged in learning for the two weeks that school will be closed.
In collaboration with the Public Schools of Robeson County, free meals are being provided to any child or young adult between the ages of 1 to 18 while schools are closed. Southside Ashpole Elementary School will serve meals from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is no need to pre-order. All meals will be served via a drive thru. Parents are asked to remain in their cars. Parents may pull up to the designated area and a School Nutrition employee or volunteer will provide the number of meals needed. Adult meals are available and will be charged at a la carte pricing. All meals should be consumed within four hours.
Because COVID-19 may spread from person to person, it is not safe for large groups of people to gather. During this time, both children and adults should stay away from other people and groups as much as possible. They should not gather in other locations such as shopping malls, movie theaters, or community centers.
We will contact you as soon as we receive additional information about students returning. All additional district updates will be provided at www.innovativeschooldistrict.org. For more information on COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. You may also visit the North Carolina Division of Public Health at www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus for statewide updates.