March 20, 2020January 8, 2021

March 20 – Daily Update

in covid19, News & Updates

UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES
If you have suddenly found yourself out of work due to the pandemic, you can move forward with filing for unemployment benefits through the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. To create an account and file for benefits, click here.

FGH BLOOD DRIVE
Due to the overwhelming response to today’s blood drive at Forrest General, additional days and sites have been added:

  • Saturday, March 21, Lake Terrace Convention Center, 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
  • Sunday, March 22, Lake Terrace Convention Center, Noon until 6 p.m.
  • Monday, March 23, The Orthopedic Institute, 27 Southern Pointe Parkway, 7 a.m. until 12 p.m.
  • Monday, March 23, Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction Services, 2255 Broadway Drive, 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.

CHURCH SERVICES
Given the mass gathering and group recommendations from the CDC, Mayor Barker has asked for churches to stream live if possible. For a list of churches doing this (which will be updated frequently), CLICK HERE TO ACCESS. If your church is broadcasting, please send the name of the church and the link to mayor@hattiesburgms.com.

MYTHS & RUMORS
With conspiracies and opinions floating around social media and the web frequently, we now have a page dedicated to squashing the things that are not truthful. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS. If you have a question you would like us to look into, send it to mayor@hattiesburgms.com.

SCHOOLS & FEEDING SITES
Hattiesburg Public Schools: All Hattiesburg schools will be closed until April 17th, 2020. At this time plans for online learning are in development and will be shared when complete. On Monday, March 23rd, 2020, all directors, principals, supervisors and essential personnel will report to their assigned work locations for guidance on how to provide our students with access to learning services.

  • Grab and Go feeding will begin next week with approval from the Mississippi Department of Education. All schools will have grab and go stations, however times and protocol for pick up have not yet been finalized.
  • All public school offices, centers and buildings will be closed until April 17, 2020. Please note that all departments and personnel will adhere to CDC guidelines on social distancing and congregating. During this time, only delivery staff will be allowed entrance into HPSD buildings.

Presbyterian Christian School: Campuses will be closed next week to students. There will be no academic responsibilities, ACT testing, athletic activities/competitions/practice or any other school-related activities during this time. At home academic responsibilities are scheduled to start back on Monday, March 30th.

Sacred Heart Schools: All Catholic Schools under the Diocese of Biloxi will be closed for students through April 17th, 2020. Additional closings will be evaluated on a week by week basis, but the hope is that they will reopen on April 20th.

  • The closure includes cancellation of all activities including clubs, extra curricular programs and athletics. Teachers, staff and administrators will continue work March 23-27th, March 30-April 3 and April 6-8th to prepare distance learning lessons.
  • Distance learning will begin on March 23rd and continue through the following dates: 23-27th, March 30-April 3 and April 6-8th. Lessons will be shared by the principal and your child’s teacher.
  • Teachers and administrative staff can be reached via school email for any questions, concerns or advisement on how to complete distance learning. Spring break for students, staff and administrators will be Holy Thursday, April 9 and 10th and continue during April 13-17, 2020.