PARENTS CAN SIGN UP FOR FOOD DELIVER TO THEIR DOORSTEP
Livingston Parish Public Schools is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Baylor University to provide food and nutrition to our students during this time that schools are closed because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The program is called Meals-to-You, and it allows for meals to be delivered to the doorsteps of students who qualify for the program.
To sign up, parents must fill out an online sign-up form and submit it as soon as possible. The form can be accessed at https://mealstoyou.org/emergency-meals-to-you-application/. The shelf-stable meals will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
For more information, go to the www.lpsb.org website. Information is also available in Spanish.
SCHOOL OFFICIALS DELIVER 6,000 PRE-PACKAGED MEAL TO STUDENTS
Livingston Parish School Supervisor of Child Nutrition Sommer Purvis drops a bag of pre-packaged meals into a box that went out to school volunteers for distribution across the parish. School employees and volunteers delivered 6,000 pre-packaged meals to needy families on March 25.
To provide food to the district’s students, food service officials recently procured pre-packaged food items that school employees and volunteers packaged into meals and distributed to families across the parish.
They packaged meal bags over a two-day period – each bag contained provisions for five lunches and two breakfasts. A total of 6,000 meals were packaged. Those bags were picked up by school personnel, who in turn distributed the bags to families in their school communities.
“This opportunity provided us with a safe, efficient way to get food to our people, so we felt confident in moving forward with this plan,” said Supervisor of Child Nutrition Sommer Purvis.
Superintendent Joe Murphy added, “We know this is a critical service for so many of our families. That’s why our food service staff and central office leadership are working feverishly to find ways to feed our children.”
LIVINGSTON SCHOOLS UTILIZE BLENDED MODEL OF LEARNING DURING COVID-19 CLOSURE PERIOD
Livingston School officials went into quick action after Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a proclamation to close all public schools in the state from March 16 to April 13 to implement a blended model of remote learning for each school during this closure period.
Superintendent Joe Murphy said the blended model of learning includes digital instructional resources, as well as printed take-home resources, to ensure that all students receive a quality level of engaged learning. He said each school implemented a plan of action that is best suited for its students and faculty.
Murphy praised teachers across the district for finding new and interesting ways to engage with their students and to communicate with them.
He noted that their efforts have been recognized by the statewide Dream Teachers organization, and that Livingston Parish will be featured in an upcoming video that highlights efforts of educators to make a difference in the lives of their students during the COVID-19 pandemic closure and “stay-at-home” time. The video is expected to be released in April.
Superintendent Joe Murphy is interviewed by David St. Romain for the special Dream Teachers video.
Those interviewed for the Dream Teachers video included, from left, South Fork Elementary Teacher Eileen Jarman, Live Oak High School History Teacher Gary Mitchell, Denham Springs Junior High School Science Teacher Elliot Coats, and Livingston Parish Middle School Student of the Year Reese Kennedy, an 8th grader from Denham Springs Junior High.
SUPERINTENDENT CONFIDENT OF DISTRICT’S RESPONSE
“Our administration has responded swiftly to coordinate a comprehensive plan of action that protects the safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff, and that delivers quality instruction and much-needed services to our students during this proclamation period.
I am confident that the determination and resolve of the people of Livingston Parish will enable us to successfully manage and overcome this challenge just as those qualities proved solid in the aftermath of the 2016 flood. In many ways, our community is no stranger to “unchartered” situations – we know we have the mettle to stand strong in difficult times!
As we work together, supporting one another, we will overcome whatever circumstances confront us. Livingston Parish has a strong track record of turning challenges into opportunities. Now, more than ever, let’s be Livingston M.A.D.E. — Making A Difference EveryDay!”
– Superintendent Joe Murphy
