Portal Elementary School

On Friday, May 29, Bulloch County Schools sent a short, five -question survey via email and text message to the parents of its nearly 11,000 students. Parents received a separate survey message for each child that is enrolled in the school district, who lives in the parent's home and for whom the parent is the legal guardian. Parents are encouraged to check their email or text message accounts, locate the survey messages, and complete a separate survey for each student so responses can be unique to each child's needs. 

Parent responses, along with requirements from local and state health and government officials, will assist the school district as it finalizes its plans for the upcoming school year, which is scheduled to begin August 3. The online survey link seeks parents' specific feedback related to each child about the following topics:

• How comfortable they are with sending their child back to school for traditional, face-to-face instruction in August, assuming Bulloch County and Georgia maintain the present levels of COVID-19 infection rates;
• If a child has adequate support from a parent, caregiver, other adult, or older sibling to enable him or her to successfully participate in a virtual learning environment;
• If provided with an Internet-accessible device how easily could the child access a stable Internet connection using the provided device;
• If a fully online school option were available for the 2020-2021 school year, would the parent be interested in enrolling their child in that option even if traditional, face-to-face school attendance is also an option, and that school closures are not mandated by official local, state, or federal action.
• And an open-ended question that seeks parents' feedback about other areas of concern that they would like the school district to consider for 2020-2021 school year, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Bulloch County Schools appreciates the patience of its parents, as its educators and support personnel strive to educate your child in an equitable and safe manner during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Continue to monitor communications from the school district during the summer as our specific plans are revealed and remember our resources and answers to frequently asked questions at www.bullochschools.org/FAQBulloch.

Bulloch County Schools established a dedicated Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) website on March 5. Please visit it here. It serves as an online resource for the following: 

• Answers to your frequently asked questions about district and school operations during the closure and how to post your additional questions.
• Safety alert news
• Trusted national, state, and local public health resources and tips to help keep you healthy
• Information about print and digital resources to keep kids engaged
• An up-to-date list of our free meal sites for children ages 0-18
• Information about how the school district is keeping essential functions operating.

Updated May 21, 2020 - Bulloch County Schools will continue to serve free meals to any children ages 0-18 on weekdays through Friday, July 17, at our established sites. A current list of our sites is listed and attached below. 

Bulloch County Schools will deliver bags of free meals to 69 public pick up locations on weekdays (Monday – Friday) through July 17. Begun on March 17, due to school closures during the international Novel Coronavirus pandemic, the local program will provide free grab and go breakfast and lunch meals to any child ages 0 to 18. No registration, sign-in, or identification is required, and the children do not have to be enrolled in one of our schools. It is not based on income. Any child is welcome, even children who may be staying here temporarily with family. Children must be present to receive meals. Look for a Bulloch County Schools’ bus at each delivery location to receive meals. 

In the interest of public health and social distancing recommendations, the meals are for pick up only. No meals can be eaten at the sites. Families should also observe social distancing practices while waiting and receiving meals.

The meal delivery sites were selected based on input from the district’s school social workers, family engagement specialists, school nutrition personnel, and transportation personnel to serve areas with the most need.  Each meal sack will include food for breakfast and lunch. The funding for the program is made possible through the school district’s School Nutrition Department as part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs.

USDA guidelines prevent the school district from being able to provide evening meals or meals on weekends. There are multiple community organizations and food pantries that are also offering food assistance for anyone experiencing food insecurity. These are listed on the Bulloch Volunteer Organizations Mobilized in Disasters (VOAD) website..

Bulloch County Schools and its School Nutrition Program do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age or gender. For additional information about this remote feeding program, contact Bulloch County Schools.