The Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education will hold an emergency meeting Monday and vote on whether to extend spring break by one week or more.
Superintendent Deborah Gist said it would help limit the spread of COVID-19, and she is not making that recommendation lightly.
"We understand that if that happened, it would be a hardship for our families in our broader community. We’re taking this possibility very seriously and would only do that if necessary. So, I would encourage all of us to begin planning for the possibility of time out of school and how we will help each other if that happens," Gist said.
Gist said TPS is making plans to provide meals for students who need them and offer online instruction while schools are closed. She said the district has also been in consultation with the State Department of Education about the proposal.
While the illness caused by the coronavirus has generally been mild in children, Gist said they aren’t the only ones to think about.
"As a school system, we’re considering both the safety of our students and the safety of everyone with whom they have contact, including their families and members of our school family," Gist said.
The TPS board meeting is at 5 p.m. at the Charles C. Mason Education Service Center, 3027 S New Haven Ave. Officials, however, are encouraging people to follow social distancing practices and view the meeting via livestream.
Schools in at least 30 states have shut down because of COVID-19, some until mid-April.
