Pennsbury Will Start School Year Virtually, Looks To Have Hybrid Model In Place For October

The Pennsbury School Board voted Thursday night to begin the school year with virtual instruction due to the pandemic.

The decision came during an almost 5-hour-long virtual meeting that drew significant questions from the public.

The school board set that the soonest start date for an hybrid model of in-person and virtual learning would be Monday, October 5. Virtual learning will begin on the already planned first day of school, Tuesday, September 8.

School board members deliberated about the details during the meeting and displayed varying opinions on when and how students could return.

Superintendent Dr. William Gretzula and the district administration recommended starting the school year entirely virtual and aimed to transition to a hybrid model.

Under the hybrid plan developed, students would be broken into groups. One group would attend in-person classes on Monday and Wednesday and the other group would be there in person on Tuesday and Thursday. On the days students are not in the classroom, they would take part in online learning. On Fridays, all students would learn online.

“We still believe that the hybrid model is best,” Gretzula said, noting that entirely virtual is the best way to start and see where things stand as the year progresses

The superintendent told the school board that 23 elementary school teachers, 13 middle school teachers, and 13 teachers at the high school said they would consider taking medical leave if in-person classes resumed at first. He said that means the district would have to fill nearly 50 positions to get classes started.

The district is prepared to offer food pickup and distribution from students during the virtual learning period. Gretzula said the district will work with cafeteria vendor Nutrition Group to set up the program.

The board voted to allow students with IEPs and certain disabilities to make the decision on whether they will come to class twice per week starting on the first day of school. About 3,300 students fall under the exemption.

Come October 5, parents will not be required to send their students back to school under the hybrid model. They could opt to keep kids home and have them learn virtually.

When students do return to the classroom, Pennsbury officials said they have plans for teachers to oversee both the hybrid learning model and also online-only learning. Video streaming and online curriculum will be used across the district and grade levels.

Brad McCormick, Pennsbury’s supervisor of educational technology, told the school board that more Chromebooks have been leased and one-to-one learning should be possible for all grades by fall.

The school board said they will continue to evaluate the COVID-19 case numbers and make a final decision about bringing students back to in-person classes in mid-September.

The school board also voted to approve a health and safety plan for athletics. While the plan features numerous safety measures and rules for sports, the district is also awaiting the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) guidance on specifics and scheduling.

The high school’s marching band is working on their own health and safety plan.

Earlier in July, the district approved their own health and safety plan for students and staff.

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