Belpre BOE meets amid COVID-19 shutdown
Volunteers pack bags of food for families in need
Belpre City Schools Board of Education President Leonard Wiggins, left, and board member Cathy O’Donnell, right, listen to a report from Treasurer Lance Erlwein during Monday’s regular board meeting. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Parent volunteer Jesseca Dodd gives directions for packing meal bags for the families of high-need students Monday at Belpre City Schools Stone Administration Building. The meals are intended to help students during a statewide school shutdown until meal programs can be established next week. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Belpre Elementary School PTA Acting President Kris Burge packs a bag with food Monday at the district’s Stone Administration Building. The meals were paid for through community donations. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Belpre City Schools Board of Education President Leonard Wiggins, left, and board member Cathy O’Donnell, right, listen to a report from Treasurer Lance Erlwein during Monday’s regular board meeting. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Parent volunteer Jesseca Dodd gives directions for packing meal bags for the families of high-need students Monday at Belpre City Schools Stone Administration Building. The meals are intended to help students during a statewide school shutdown until meal programs can be established next week. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Belpre Elementary School PTA Acting President Kris Burge packs a bag with food Monday at the district’s Stone Administration Building. The meals were paid for through community donations. (Photo by Michael Erb)
Trending
BELPRE -- The Belpre Board of Education met in regular session Monday but in the midst of unusual circumstances.
Belpre City Schools was closed Monday along with school systems throughout the United States as officials try to stem the spread of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus. The respiratory virus originated in China late last year and has since spread throughout the world.
While West Virginia is the last state without a confirmed case of coronavirus, Ohio has shut down schools, churches, businesses and events to try to slow or prevent spread of the virus.
Belpre Superintendent Jeff Greenley gave board members a brief update on such efforts. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced more business closures and said schools potentially could remain closed into the summer.
President Donald Trump moved a restriction on gatherings from 50 or more to 10 or more, which would essentially prevent most public meetings. Monday's school board meeting was attended by 25 people including the five-member board.
"We continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on our community and the state of Ohio," Greenley said. "We are busy working on recommendations for food service and how we could envision academic supports for our students."
Greenley said he would have recommendations prepared for the board by the end of the week and would relay information to parents and community members as quickly as possible.
Prior to the start of Monday's meeting, Greenley and volunteers packed bags of food to be distributed to the families of students considered at "high need."
"This is a stopgap until we get full meal service rolling next week," Greenley said.
Belpre Elementary School Principal Lauren Keeling said supplies were purchased through donations after members of school's Parent Teacher Association reached out to the community online.