By Donnie A. Lucas
Albany teachers have remained busy over the last week transitioning to alternate delivery methods of education materials and content in the wake of the school’s closure due to the COVID-19 concerns.
The local district started a two-week closure to students last Monday that was due to end next Tuesday, but the shutdown was made mandatory statewide by Gov. Greg Abbott through April 3.
By Kathy Thomson
Albany restaurant owners are trying to adjust to a new and unprecedented normal brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, and Shackelford residents are encouraged to help them keep their businesses open.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Albany ISD’s school meal program started this week with pickup breakfast and lunch bags, and administrators are looking at possibly setting up remote locations if needed.
AISD cafeteria manager Debra Boyett said Tuesday that her staff handed out about 20 breakfasts the first two morning, along with 35 to 40 lunches on those two days.
“The pickup procedure in the circle drive at the elementary school is working well, so we’re going to continue distributing as many meals as we can that way,” said Boyett.
By Kathy Thomson
The staff at the Moran Independent School District is working to meet the needs of their students, with lessons available online, by email, or by hard copy, and meals provided to local students by request.
“We are still supplying a few meals for students,” said superintendent Danny Freeman. “For those families that have requested meals, we are providing breakfast and lunch twice a week.”
By Kathy Thomson
The City of Moran is still working to complete the paperwork required before they can begin using the $275,000 in HUD Community Development Block Grant funds earmarked for replacing approximately 2,500 of eight inch sewer lines running along Fisher Avenue and Grand Avenue, and as of press time on Tuesday, commodities were scheduled to be available as normal on Friday, April 3. However, COVID-19 concerns have interrupted most other city activities in Moran.
By Melinda L. Lucas
City, school, and county officials are on the front lines of the worldwide coronavirus surge as they carefully but quickly navigate state and federal recommendations to rein in the “beast” before it grows to the proportions that it has in other countries.
In addition to Albany’s school closure for a minimum 14-day period and Moran ISD’s shutdown at least through April 3, local mayor pro tem Susan Montgomery has taken steps to try to protect local citizens, particularly those susceptible to becoming critically ill.
By Melinda L. Lucas
Albany ISD trustees made a tough decision during a Monday night meeting dominated by coronavirus concerns, eventually voting unanimously to suspend local classes through the end of March.
The board and administrators worked quickly through their regular agenda, including the selection of a new property insurance provider, before adjourning so the emergency part of the session, which had been set for 7:30 p.m., could be convened.
COVID Plan & Action
By Melinda L. Lucas
Coronavirus protocol for both the health clinic and the ambulance service was reviewed during a regular meeting of the Shackelford County Hospital District’s directors on Monday, March 16.
Also during the meeting, the board approved a request by local EMT Colby Herron for tuition assistance as he pursues his training to become a paramedic.
The funding will be formally provided after new amended guidelines are presented at the April meeting.
COVID19 Protocol
By Melinda L. Lucas
School breakfast and lunch for local students during the period that classes are suspended were still up in the air at press time, but Albany ISD administrators were hopeful that the cafeteria staff could begin distributing meals as soon as Thursday morning, March 19.
According to AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott, many school districts are “ready to roll” because the initial guidelines are those used for summer food programs.
By Kathy Thomson
Albany High School students are dealing with numerous schedule changes and cancellations due to the COVIC-19 pandemic including postponement of the District 8-2A academic contest, originally scheduled to take place next Monday, March 23.
“The University Interscholastic League has said we cannot have our district meet until after March 29,” said AHS UIL coordinator Rick Davis. “I have not heard officially when we will have it, but that they were looking at the first week of April.”
