On Sunday, March 15,  Governor Chris Sununu took the step to temporarily close all New Hampshire schools and direct them to switch to remote learning.  As of the March 15 press conference, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Hampshire is 13.  Cases occur in Grafton, Hillsborough, and Rockingham counties.

On March 14, in response to the threat of COVID-19 infection and the need for social distancing to help fight the global pandemic, Farmington Schools will be closing for the week of March 16 through 20.  During this week, teachers will be trained and the plan for moving our students to remote learning will be refined.   The following is a public letter from Superintendent, Ruth Ellen Vaughn, explaining the process.

March 14, 2020
Good Evening,

Tonight, about 7pm, I was assured by the Department of Public Health that “an investigation into the situation in the Farmington School System has been deemed not to be a threat to public health.” In light of the developing health concerns throughout the region, however, I am closing all schools the week of March 16th with the intent to begin remote learning via a hybrid model (digital and paper) beginning on March 23rd through April 6th.

This decision is made in an effort to mitigate and contain the spread of the virus for our students, staff, and community. We are still at very low risk for widespread viral transmission and closing school will help keep the risk lower for the weeks to come. I know this is a hardship for families and that you need time to make plans. 

During the week of March 16-20, the school staff will be working on remote lessons and the best delivery of those according to the needs of their students. Our remote learning plan will be presented to them on Monday and to the public Monday night at the Farmington School Board meeting. This plan will likely evolve in some details over the course of the week, but broadly includes devices and internet connection loans, continuation of access to meals through Stafford Community Action Program and End 68, and delivery of lessons through paper packs brought to homes by bus and through online learning. Guidance counselors will continue to work with their students remotely and school nurses will be available online and by phone with “office hours” for consultation regarding sick children.

We are taking the time to ensure that the instruction delivered to students remotely is well done and as seamless as possible. Doing this right will be particularly important if the model proves to be one we are needing to use for a longer period of time. Attendance done remotely will be through participation and completion of work, and will be detailed to families throughout the week. We will also be setting up times for families to pick up student electronic devices and materials.
The reopening of school will be re-evaluated as the situation unfolds, and further guidance is received from state officials.

Sincerely,
Ruth Ellen Vaughn
Superintendent


Learn more about the COVID-19 Pandemic and find information and resources.

Farmington School District Updates

Resources for Schools from the New Hampshire Department of Education

Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU)

Governor directs all NH schools to temporarily close, turn to remote learning by WMUR, Channel 9.

Situation Summary Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention