Coronavirus Updates

Monday, March 16, 2020 10:00 am
Coronavirus Updates

UPDATE-April 6, 2020
Governor Asa Hutchinson announced today that due to the COVID-19 situation, all K-12 schools will remain closed for on-site instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. AMI (Alternative Methods of Instruction) work will continue for all grades through the end of the semester. This will be available online at www.VBSD.us and paper packets will be provided at the front of each campus. Updates will continue to be provided on the District website and social media, @VBSDPointers.


El gobernador Asa Hutchinson anunció hoy que debido a la situación del COVID-19, todas las escuelas de nivel K-12 permanecerán cerradas para la instrucción en el sitio por el resto del año escolar 2019-2020. El trabajo de AMI (Métodos alternativos de instrucción) continuará para todos los grados hasta el final del semestre. Este trabajo estará disponible en línea en el sitio www.VBSD.us y se proporcionarán paquetes en versión papel en frente de cada campus. Se seguirán proporcionando actualizaciones en el sitio web del Distrito y en las redes sociales, @VBSDPointers.


UPDATE-March 29, 2020
Students are to complete work for AMI day six tomorrow. (Monday, March 30) This is available on the District website. Additional AMI work for the week will be posted on the VBSD website Monday morning. Paper copies of AMI packets will also be available for pickup at each campus tomorrow. The packets will be placed in tubs at the front of each school. Students will submit their completed work to their teacher upon return to school.


UPDATE-March 28, 2020 
VBSD is changing up its meal service to better serve students while schools are closed. Breakfast and lunch will be provided "grab and go" style from 10 a.m. to noon at three campuses. (See below.) Meals are free and available to students ages 18 and younger. 

Pick-up Sites
Central Elementary School, 913 North 24th Street

Northridge Middle School, 120 Northridge Drive

Tate Elementary School, 406 Catcher Road 


UPDATE-March 26, 2020
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, VBSD is asking everyone to please refrain from using playground and/or fitness equipment at all of its campuses. VBSD outdoor trails remain open, but visitors are encouraged to practice social distancing. 


UPDATE-March 24, 2020
Information regarding graduation requirements for the Van Buren High School Class of 2020 has been posted. Additional details will be announced in the coming days. Class of 2020 information.pdf


UPDATE-March 23, 2020

IMPACT Meals is hosting a Virtual Food Drive. Donations can be made online using a credit or debit card.  All funds will be used to purchase groceries for VBSD families most at-risk for food insecurity. Click here for more details about IMPACT and ways to help during the COVID-19 school closure


UPDATE-March 20, 2020

Kindergarten Registration for the Van Buren School District (originally scheduled for April 3) has been POSTPONED. A new date will be determined at a later time. Details will be announced in the coming weeks for how and when to register incoming kindergarteners.


UPDATE-March 19, 2020

Governor Asa Hutchinson announced that all K-12 schools will remain closed through April 17 due to the Coronavirus situation. VBSD will post more information about AMI (Alternative Methods of Instruction) work in the coming days. Updates will be provided on our social media, @VBSDPointers, and the District website, www.VBSD.us.

Por órdenes del gobernador de Arkansas, Asa Hutchinson, las Escuelas Públicas de Arkansas no volverán a dar clases en el modo de escuela habitual hasta el dia lunes 20 de abril de 2020.



UPDATE-March 16, 2020 

Due to school closures, IMPACT Meals Distribution that was scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday evening at the Service Center has been changed.

All students scheduled to pick up at the Service Center location can do so Monday-Wednesday 8:00 am - 11:30 am or 1:00 pm - 3:30pm. The Service Center is located at 2804 Industrial Park Road in Van Buren.

IMPACT students from Tate, Central, and City Heights should contact their school sites for pick-up information.

There will be NO distribution during Spring Break.

For additional information please contact our office at (479)474-7404.

Parent Letter (Spanish Version).pdfDistrict Website Updates (Actualizaciones del Distrito Escolar).pdf


UPDATE-March 15, 2020

The Van Buren School District will not be in session beginning Monday, March 16 and will remain closed through the end of the week. This order comes following a directive from Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. VBSD will observe Spring Break as scheduled next week, March 23-27, 2020. At this time, the plan is to reopen Monday, March 30. In the event of an extended closure, VBSD will announce further instructions.

***Although schools will NOT be in session tomorrow, in an effort to help accommodate families and allow them additional time to secure childcare, VBSD will have staff available at its elementary and middle school campuses to provide childcare for elementary and middle school level students on Monday ONLY. This will be during regular school hours ONLY. (8 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Breakfast and lunch will be provided on-site. Bus routes for elementary and middle school students will run as usual on Monday ONLY. Elementary and middle school students are NOT required to attend on Monday – the childcare option is simply a courtesy the District is extending to help families.***

AMI (Alternative Method of Instruction) packets containing the first five (5) days of classwork, labeled Day 2 – Day 6, were sent home with students on Friday. These are also available on the District website. In the event the District closes for more than five days, additional days of classwork will be available on the District website. If students are unable to access or print classwork, copies of additional days of classwork will be available when students return to school. Students will be given an appropriate amount of time to complete the additional days of classwork. The District was scheduled to be in session four days this week, therefore classwork for days 2-5 should be completed before returning to school Monday, March 30.

Essential personnel (limited to those who attend monthly administrative staff meetings) and select support personnel (who will be contacted individually by their principal or director) will report to work this week. VBSD Parent-Teacher Conferences, scheduled for this Tuesday, March 17 and Thursday, March 19, will be handled remotely. Teachers will contact parents via phone or email to discuss student performance.    

The school closure extends to all school activities. All sporting events, meetings, performances, and practices are cancelled.

VBSD will serve breakfast and lunch Monday through Thursday of this week. The District will provide a “grab-and-go” option for all students. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be served from noon to 1 p.m. at three designated sites. These include:  

Central Elementary School, 913 North 24th Street

Northridge Middle School, 120 Northridge Drive

Tate Elementary School, 406 Catcher Road 

Updates regarding COVID-19 will continue to be posted on this page and on the District’s social media, @VBSDPointers.

For more information about COVID-19, please refer to the Center for Disease Control’s website. Information is also available on the Arkansas Department of Health’s website.



UPDATE-March 13, 2020

The Van Buren School District is continuing to monitor information about the Coronavirus. As of Friday, March 13, 2020 VBSD is proceeding with normal class schedules and procedures. On March 12, the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) announced that it was suspending all activities and sporting events. While no games will be held, VBSD athletics and activities will continue to hold regularly scheduled practices, so long as school is in session.

Van Buren administration is staying in close contact with the Arkansas Department of Education and the Arkansas Department of Health to determine if any further action or cancellations are necessary. VBSD is following the direction of state officials and will close if directed to do so. In the event of a school closure, the District will implement its Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) procedures. AMI packets containing the first five (5) days of classwork, labeled Day 2 – Day 6, will be sent home with students and will be available on the District website www.vbsd.us. In the event the District closes for more than five days, additional days of classwork will be available on the District website. If students are unable to access or print classwork, copies of additional days of classwork will be available when students return to school. Students will be given an appropriate amount of time to complete the additional days of classwork.

Updates regarding COVID-19 will continue to be posted on this page and on the District’s social media (@VBSDPointers).

As always, please continue to take precautions to help prevent the spread of diseases. Practices include to:

•Stay home when sick

•Frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

•Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

•Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing

•Do not share food or drinks


For more information about COVID-19, please refer to the Center for Disease Control’s website.

Information is also available on the Arkansas Deparment of Health's website


March 4, 2020
Coronavirus letter.pdf