Schools to close until April 24
Governor pushes back Tenn. students’ return
NASHVILLE — Tennessee schools are to remain closed for another month, Gov. Bill Lee announced on Tuesday, just over a week after he first urged districts around the state to shut down through the end of March.
Lee’s announcement was the latest in his effort to steer the state through the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the governor has largely shied away from mandates, as other states have done, and instead urged people, businesses and other institutions to decide for themselves to stay home.
Schools are to remain closed until April 24, and more than half of Tennessee’s 40,000 state employees have been instructed to continue working from home until then.
“We want our kids to continue to learn through the extension of this deadline,” which was originally March 31, Lee said during his daily briefing, held virtually on Tuesday.
The governor also said he has activated the Tennessee National Guard, 250 volunteer members of which will be assisting at rural coronavirus testing sites around the state, where the total cases numbered at least 667 on Tuesday afternoon.
Per an executive order Tuesday, driver’s licenses expiring after March 12 will be extended until May 18, and the state is also waiving emissions testing deadlines until that date. Real IDS, a new form of license that meets stricter federal security guidelines, won’t be issued until then either, Lee said, since the federal deadline requiring one is also being pushed back.
Lee has also moved back the filing deadline for businesses’ franchise and excise taxes to July 15.
The Tennessee Attorney General’s office, in conjunction with Lee’s administration, has filed an emergency petition with the Public Utility Commission to urge utility companies to suspend disconnections for those who cannot currently make payments.
Officials with the state Department of Commerce and Insurance have requested insurance companies be flexible and avoid canceling insurance policies for non-payment.
Education department works to secure remote learning opportunities
The state Department of Education
has secured a partnership with PBS, starting April 6, to offer instructional content on television while students are home.
Speaking to reporters by video conference, education commissioner Penny Schwinn said the public broadcasting channel had joined forces with the state “in very short order” and would be showing “actual lessons” while students are at home.
“We recognize that not all children have access to internet at home,” Schwinn said, adding that the state is also working on making lessons available by radio.
Some districts are distributing work packets when they deliver meals to lowincome children, while others are working with local law enforcement to get instructional materials dropped off at homes.
The state is still looking for guidance from the federal government on expectations for students with disabilities, Schwinn said.
“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,” Schwinn said in a statement.
“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,” she said. “This is a
Lee previously urged schools to close
On March 16, Lee urged Tennessee schools to close to promote social distancing and curb the spread of the coronavirus. He asked schools remain closed until the end of March.
While he stopped short of mandating school closures, district leaders across the state heeded the governor’s call and all began to shutter ahead of March 20, the deadline by which he asked schools to close.
Some schools were out on spring break that week, though others had been out the week before.
Due to the disruptions caused by the closures — including from tornado damage earlier this month — Lee’s administration put together a proposal to cancel the statewide Tnready test and ensure schools, teachers and students wouldn’t be held accountable. The proposal passed as lawmakers worked quickly last week to approve an emergency budget and recess until June.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Education submitted a waiver to the federal education department so the state won’t be punished for suspending statewide testing this school year.
The U.S. Department of Education on Monday announced it approved the state’s initial testing waiver. The federal government also is allowing the state, through a waiver, to use federal money to provide food to kids in low-income communities while they are out of school.
Jason Gonzales contributed to this story.
Reach Natalie Allison at nallison@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter at @natalie_allison.