Concord Coronavirus: Kids Get Food, Remote Learning Packets, Too

CONCORD, NH — Concord School District began utilizing employees within its transportation department to distribute food to students around the city. Numerous vehicles began distributing food Wednesday in four neighborhood clusters representing areas served by the city's elementary schools. At White Park before 11 a.m., Cindy, Carrie, and another person unloaded food from one of the buses, both breakfast and lunch, and prepared for students to come.

Carrie also hung a sign letting people know what the hours for distribution would be.

After serving eight children, they moved on to other locations around the West End and downtown.

Cindy said later in the day that they handed out about 30 bags to students. She hoped that between word of mouth and families reading the schedules that were posted at the park (see below), that more families would take advantage of "this wonderful service Concord School District is providing." Any child, she said, from 6 months to 18, could receive the lunches.

"What a great help to families during this difficult time," Cindy said. "I am honored to be asked to help with this project. It takes a village."

Preparing For Remote Learning

The transition to remote learning, nicknamed "Great Learning Challenge of 2020," with Rundlett Middle School Principal Paulette Fitzgerald suggesting RMS families use #glc2020 on social media to share parent and student efforts, began in earnest with packet pickups at schools Wednesday.

RMS will also be open Thursday for packet pickups, instruments, and other items. Administrators will be at the school from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Staffers were seen Wednesday helping students clean out lockers as well as preparing bags for computers, cleaning floors, and other activities.

Interim School Superintendent Franklyn Bass said the New Hampshire Department of Education wanted school districts to be ready to teach remotely by Friday and he said SAU 8 was way ahead of schedule with its preparations.

"We're ready now," Bass said.

Interim School Superintendent Franklyn Bass speaks about the transition to remote learning in SAU 8.

The hope by officials was that all of the districts wouldn't have too much downtime in making the transition. Bass said everyone in the school community had been working tirelessly to get to this point.

Don't miss updates about coronavirus precautions and information in New Hampshire as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

"The thing that has really impressed me the most is how everyone has worked together to make this happen," he said. "I don't care if it's parents, transportation folks, cafeteria workers, maintenance folks, (educational assistants), teachers, administrators, everybody has pitched in to try and help out. Everybody realizes we are in a crisis situation."

The school system has prepared a dual platform — both digital and printed packets. Some students, Bass said, have Chromebooks that aren't working, and can reach out to technology contact in the district.

Bass thanked the transportation personnel, too, who pitched in to get food out to students Wednesday. He said the district was also working on a plan for dinners and meals delivered during the weekend.

Food Delivery Schedule

Food will be delivered to students on Thursday and next week but not Friday. Any student can receive breakfast and/or lunch from the buses in the following areas of the city at the following times:

Beaver Meadow Area

• 11 to 11:10 a.m. Meadow Brook Apartments by Mailboxes
• 11 to 11:05 a.m. 20 Bog Road
• 11:05 to 11:15 29 Bog Road
• 11:10 to 11:15 a.m. 107 Fisherville Road by Bus Shelter
• 11:15 to 11:20 a.m. Concord Terrace by Mailboxes
• 11:20 to 11:25 a.m. 15 Parmenter Road
• 11:20 and after – individual stops.

Christa McAuliffe School

• 11 to 11:05 a.m. White’s Park Parking Lot
• 11 to 11:05 a.m. Market Lane at Pleasant Street
• 11:10 to 11:15 a.m. 180 Liberty St. (by Wyman Street)
• 11:10 to 11:15 a.m. Hillside View Apartments: 1st parking lot 11:15 to 11:25 a.m. Jennings Drive by Daycare
• 11:20 and after – individual stops
• 11:30-11:33 252 N. State St.

Abbot Downing School

• 11 to 11:10 a.m. River View Estates at Hall Street, corner of Longmeadow Drive and Hazel Drive
• 11:15 to 11:20 a.m. Fletcher-Murphy playground on Fayette Street by United Baptist Church
• 11:20 to 11:25 a.m. West Street by playground
• 11:25 and after – individual stops

Broken Ground and Mill Brook Area

• 11 to 11:15 a.m. Canton Circle
• 11 to 11:10 a.m. 32 Cherry St. (in front of first building on the left) 11 to 11:15 a.m. Morning Star by Mailboxes
• 11 to 11:15 a.m. Royal Gardens in front of Building 12
• 11:15 to 11:30 a.m. 19 Old Suncook Rd. by Playground
• 11:20 to 11:30 a.m. Regency Hill Estates at Gate by Playground and Picnic area
• 11:20 to 11:35 a.m. Concord Gardens by Rental Office
• 11:25 to 11:35 a.m. 84 Branch Turnpike Edgewood Heights by Tennis Courts
• 11:30 and after – individual stops
• 11:35 to 11:40 a.m. Eastern Avenue by playground
• 11:45 to 11:50 a.m. Merrill Park on Eastman Street

Got a news tip? Send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube channel.