March 12, 2020

Parents and Guardians,

The VCSC is monitoring the effects and impact of the coronavirus daily.  Our corporation physician, Dr. Alan Stewart, who is also the county health officer has been in constant communication with our corporation head nurse, Mrs. Sara Schutz.  Dr. Stewart and Nurse Schutz are monitoring daily attendance as well as other matters.  In fact, even before Indiana experienced cases of the coronavirus, our facilities and food service team started taking greater precautions.  This includes the former are checking those more frequent touch points in buildings and with this sanitizing them.  As we prepare to move into Spring Break, all buildings will receive a deep clean.  We also will look towards transportation and being sure that primary touch points within our buses are addressed.

The primary guidance that we would issue at this time is that if your child or student is not feeling well, they should not be in school.  We would also ask this of parents, guardians and others that if you are not feeling well, please do not enter our school buildings.  If you need to come and drop something off or pick something up including your child or student, simply stay outside of the building and office staff will work with you in this realm. All office phones numbers can be found at the bottom of this message.

We do not know what the future may hold with this virus and we certainly hope that the end is near, but the realization may be that this is not the case.  What I can assure you is that we are in constant contact with state and local authorities, as well as medical professionals and are taking precautions internally while continuing to deliver those services that are our primary responsibility and this is educating your child or student.

In the days and weeks ahead, plans may have to be changed or altered and these are being considered behind the scenes.  But with this, it is our desire to continue to provide educational services each day and through the end of the school year.

It is understood that a large school system in the Indianapolis area has closed for a period and higher education is now making some of these plans.  We view this at the present in a different light.  The coronavirus has had little to no impact upon children of the ages that we service.  Again, it is understood that this could change, but based upon the age group that has been defined at the present, school aged children of K-12 have had little  impact.

It is also understood that school may in fact be the safest place for them.  As when schools cancel, parents may not be in positions to take off from work and children and students will do what they want and this is simply be out and about and especially with warmer weather and temperatures and with this may put themselves in positions where they come into greater contact with people who are not taking precautions.  We also realize that in other instances that if we are forced to close that this becomes a hardship on parents and others as they may have to take off from work.

Therefore, it is our desire to continue as business as usual but with this taking care of things internally.

This is a good time to remind people of what is simply known and this is the good hygiene.  Washing your hands with soap and water does appear to be a strong deterrent.  Not only to the coronavirus but sickness in general.

As more items become available, we will share.  Until then, simply know that we are taking this seriously but at the present we are simply monitoring internally but with this relying upon some of the best resources that we have and this includes our corporation physician in addition to our school nurses.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us ANYTIME through the VCSC Helpline. The email is vcschelp@vcsc.k12.in.us and the phone number is 812-882-6376.

Thank you!

Greg Parsley

Superintendent

Vincennes Community School Corporation

VCSC Administration Office 812-882-4844

LHS Office 812-882-8480

CMS Office 812-882-5172

Franklin Office 812-882-8176

Riley Office 812-882-7953

Tecumseh-Harrison Office 812-882-8458

Vigo Office 812-882-5871