From the Superintendent's Office

Pathways to Reopening Communication #4

August 6, 2020

Dear Penn-Delco Parents/Guardians and Staff,

Since the start of our planning for a safe reopening of schools, I have pledged to the community that any recommendation to reopen for in-person or at-home virtual learning would be based upon professional guidance from public health officials, since it is a public health issue that is impacting our ability to operate normally.

Until this week, I had no reason to consider recommending anything but a hybrid reopening. That has changed. Medical and public health officials that support and oversee Delaware County school districts are now indicating that an in-person start to the school year be postponed, based upon updated data and knowledge about virus transmission.

Accordingly, I will be recommending to the Penn-Delco Board of School Directors that our district reopen using the 100% virtual option that has been afforded to school districts.

While I find the loss of a hybrid reopening for the start of school terribly disappointing, it simply would be hypocritical of me to tell the community that schools can safely reopen based upon the recommendations and guidance from health safety officials, then dismiss that guidance once it changed. Further, with the start of school just one month ahead, I recognize that the most advance notice that can be provided is helpful to working parents and caregivers.

Virtual learning at Penn-Delco

Under the virtual model, all students will begin the year learning remotely from the same Penn-Delco teachers they otherwise would have had for in-person instruction. School districts have made substantial improvements to the virtual instruction model that was in place last Spring.

As I noted previously, Penn-Delco teachers can’t wait to get back to teaching. Here, there, and everywhere, teaching, learning, and direct instruction will make its way to your child. Since we are hopeful that trends will improve sooner rather than later, if the health experts are comfortable with a hybrid reopening of schools, PDSD will revisit the reopening status at our September School Board Meeting (9/23) and provide parents and staff with advance notice on any potential changes.

The proposed revised schedule for the 2020-2021 school year reopening 

• September 8^th, 2020 – October 9^th, 2020: Penn Delco operates 100% virtually.
• Students will log into live instruction from the home.
• Since all students will start the year by receiving their instruction from our teachers virtually, enrollment in Penn-Delco Cyber (posted yesterday) will be suspended.
• When school reopens for in-person instruction, parents will still have the option to continue with at-home, virtual learning for their children by enrolling in Penn-Delco Cyber at that time.

The Penn-Delco School Board will be presented with my recommendation Monday evening, August 10^th at 7:30 pm. Should the reopening plan be amended, a detailed overview of our fully online, virtual format will be emailed to parents and the community next week. Virtual learning this year will include substantially more live instruction, direct teaching, student engagement, and structure than last year.

Other important points to note

• Our Special Education and Pupil Services department remains committed to ensuring that students with specialized educational plans (health plans, GIEP’s, IEP’s, and 504-service agreements) receive personalized consideration of plans and supports for an all-virtual model. Communication to parents of students in these groups will be made by our Special Education administrators and staff, and a virtual information session will be scheduled for Q and A opportunities.
• As of today, the delivery of Chromebook laptops to the district is scheduled for the end of August. Distribution of student Chromebooks remains tentatively scheduled for the week prior to the start of school, and specific dates and times for distribution will be sent once the district receives the devices. I am especially pleased the School Board has supported the distribution of Chromebook laptops to all students given the circumstances we currently face.

Focused on solutions

It’s impossible for me to adequately convey my disappointment and sadness over the delayed start of in-person instruction. I share the frustration of parents who are hoping for concrete direction from state and federal agencies, yet recognize that those agencies are struggling too with responding to a matter that is as fluid as COVID-19. Criticism is never a solution, and I remain focused on solutions that can make the best of a difficult situation for our families and students.

As soon as I have official health guidance supporting the reopening of schools for in-person instruction, the district will pivot back to that option, in hopes that we can get back to normal as quickly as possible. My next update which will be sent to the community on Tuesday, August 11^th.

In closing, thank you for your patience. Not surprisingly, Penn-Delco families and staff have been particularly supportive and understanding during this pandemic period. Whether learning occurs in person or now from home, we continue to work to enable all students to Achieve, Succeed, and Excel.

Sincerely,

Dr. George Steinhoff

Superintendent, Penn-Delco School District

Pathways to Reopening Communication #3

July 27, 2020

Dear Penn-Delco Parents/Guardians and Staff,

• Screening – The most important step to prevent the spread of the virus is for parents to conduct daily symptom screening of their children prior to them leaving home in the morning. Students and staff who do not feel well, are sick, or are symptomatic need to stay home. Temperature screenings should occur at home as it is now acknowledged that daily in-person temperature screening of very large groups is not practical, fails to identify positive cases who may still be asymptomatic, and can lead to a queue that violates physical distancing.

• Hygiene – All schools will have required hygiene reminder signage, personal sanitizers, and other CDC-approved sanitizing products and equipment to strengthen hygiene practices in our buildings. Time for frequent hand-washing will be built into the school day. Additional hydrostatic cleaning machines, hand sanitizer stations, and barriers have been purchased to promote hygienic conditions in all of our school buildings. All students will be encouraged to have a personal supply of hand sanitizer, a water bottle, or other helpful hygiene items, and parents may wish to begin to assemble those items ahead of the back-to-school rush.

• Distancing – Following an analysis by our facilities department, we know our classrooms can accommodate the physical distancing practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other Health Departments. In all circumstances, we will seek to maximize physical and social distancing wherever possible and feasible. Classroom layouts will be much more traditional to maintain effective spacing between students. Floor or space markers and other directional signage will also be used to honor these recommendations. Additionally, adult and parent visits to schools will be significantly limited and we will continue to encourage virtual meeting opportunities whenever possible.

• Masking/Face Coverings – Since masks, face shields, or other face coverings slow the spread of the virus, the use of masks and face coverings will be expected of students and staff. Currently, the state order to wear masks eliminates the optionality of the practice. However, the use of masks will remain an important part of our reopening plan due to the unanimity on its effectiveness from medical and health experts. Parents of younger students are especially encouraged to try the use of a variety of face masks or coverings that may provide the most comfort for them prior to the start of the school year. We are aware that masks can be burdensome and we are looking at spacing opportunities for six feet plus of distance and/or other potentialities that may permit and provide some relief from masks, when permitted, and in accordance with health and safety guidance.