Good Morning Pine Bush Families!

I’m sending you this emergency “out of sync” message because we have three critical things all Pine Bush family should know.  My first announcement is for parents who work in healthcare or serve as first responders. If any parents in these categories need childcare, we are trying to develop a plan to help you out. But we need to know how many children this would entail. If you are a first responder or healthcare worker who needs childcare, we need you to call or email us today in order to get a count of the children that will need the service. You can call our main switchboard 744-2031 or send an email to michael.pacella@pinebushschools.org   We need to know your role, how many kids you have, along with their ages and the schools they currently attend. We are working with the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club to see what we can arrange. Once we have identified the families and children who need this service, will be able to figure out where and when we can begin to provide it.

Second, we have heard from a number of families who need Chromebooks in order for their children to engage in the online learning we have posted to our website. We have been disinfecting Chromebooks these past two days, and we are preparing to provide Chromebooks on loan to the families that need them. You will be required to complete a loan request form on which you will take responsibility for returning the device in working order. We will have those forms on our website for download and will have paper copies at the two drive-through locations (Pine Bush High School and Circleville Middle School) between 11 AM and 1 PM starting today. The chrome books will not be ready for distribution until Friday, March 20.  There will be a limit of one Chromebook per family.

Third and last, if you lack Internet service at home, you should know Charter Communication is offering free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access starting for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription. Installation fees will be waived for the new student households. Charter also offers Spectrum Internet Assist, a high-speed broadband program, to eligible low-income households. In addition, Charter is opening its Wi-Fi hotspots across the area for public use.  The number you would call for this is 844-488-8395. 

Things continue to change daily and we are working overtime to keep up.  Thanks for your understanding and support

Tim O. Mains, Pine Bush Superintendent