Nashville, Tenn.–At his daily media briefing Tuesday afternoon, Governor Bill Lee recommended that all Tennessee schools remain closed through April 24.
In our area, Henry County, Paris Special Schools, Obion County Schools, Union City, Weakley County, Stewart County, Dyersburg City and Dyer County have already notified the public they will follow the Governor’s recommendation.
In a joint statement, Henry County School System and Paris Special School District announced they will extend school closures through April 24, 2020. This announcement is in response to Governor Bill Lee’s announcement today, encouraging schools to close. During this time, HCSS and PSSD direct you to their district websites for updates as well as to the Tennessee Department of Education.
Following the recommendation of the Governor, Stewart County Schools will remained closed through April 24th. Classes will resume April 27th. Stewart County schools will continue to support students with meals and academic materials.
Statement from Commissioner Penny Schwinn on Governor’s Recommendation to Extend School Closures:
NASHVILLE, TN – Today, Commissioner Penny Schwinn released the following statement on Governor Bill Lee’s announcement recommending school districts remain closed through April 24:
“This is an unprecedented time for our country and state and we thank Governor Lee for his leadership in protecting the health and wellbeing of Tennessee’s students and teachers. We know school closures represent a significant disruption for families and students and the recommendation to extend them has not been considered lightly.”
“The Department of Education team will continue to work closely with our districts as they serve students and families during this time. We are committed to doing whatever we can to support our district leaders as they make the necessary decisions to ensure students can continue to access critical meal and other services, as well as receive high-quality academic instruction while they are out of school.”
“Even in the midst of these challenges, we have seen an incredible outpouring from districts, schools, and teachers going above and beyond to ensure students continue to have access to food and have the supports they need to continue learning. This is a huge testament to our resilience as a state and the dedication of our educators and leaders.”
The Department of Education will continually update guidance to school districts posted on our website: https://www.tn.gov/education/health-and-safety/update-on-coronavirus.html