MD Coronavirus: Baltimore Public Schools To Close, Meals Continue

BALTIMORE, MD — Baltimore City Public Schools officials canceled parent-teacher conferences that had been scheduled for Friday, March 13. That day, schools will be preparing for the mandatory two-week closure that state officials announced Thursday.

Schools will be closed in Baltimore City from Monday, March 16, to Friday, March 27, based on guidance from Maryland State Schools Superintendent Karen Salmon.

All activities that normally take place in school buildings — classes, child care, athletics/sports, health services, professional development and preschool — will be canceled in Baltimore City Public Schools.

"It is crucial that we take immediate measures to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in school communities around the state," Salmon said.

When the statewide public school closures were ordered Thursday at a news conference with the governor, Maryland had 12 confirmed cases of new coronavirus. None of them live in Baltimore; they are from Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, Montgomery and Prince George's counties.

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"During the time of school closure, all public school buildings and school buses should be cleaned and disinfected to prevent spread of the virus upon the return of students and staff to school," Salmon said.

Learning Packets Will Be Available

Teachers will prepare supplemental instructional materials and weekly lessons, according to Baltimore City Public Schools.

Students will be able to find the learning packets on the Baltimore City Public Schools website starting Monday, March 16.

For those who need hard copies, Baltimore City Public Schools will provide them at each student's school from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, and Thursday, March 19.

Spring Break Days Are Now School Days

Baltimore City Public Schools will ask the state to allow the missed days to be made up during spring break.

Previously, spring break was scheduled for April 6 to April 13.

The new plan is for these days to be school days, according to Baltimore City Public Schools.

Meal Service To Be Provided

Emergency food service will be provided from at least eight sites, where students can pick up free, grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals, according to school officials.

The food service program will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 20.

School officials will announce the food service sites by Sunday, March 15, on the Baltimore City Public Schools health updates website.

See Also:

• MD Coronavirus: Public Schools To Close, Spring Break Changes
• Baltimore St. Patrick's Parade Postponed To Ensure Health, Safety
• MD Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know