The Neshaminy School District will start the year virtually.
The school board approved the plan to begin classes virtually on Tuesday, September 8 for all students.
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Superintendent Dr. Rob McGee said complete online learning will run through Friday, October 2.
At the end of September, the school board will decide whether to start a hybrid model come Monday, October 5. A later vote will decide if there could be a resumption of a closer-to-normal school schedule for students come November.
The district will offer socially distant in-person orientations at schools for grade levels in September.
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Some students with IEPs and serious learning difficulties would be able to return in-person to classrooms starting in September. Parents would have to approve letting their student come to school, McGee said.
More than 40 people signed up for public comment. The comments ranged from worries about returning to in-person classes, concerns about students at home, and questions about the plan.
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The district’s hybrid plan would break students into the “blue team” and “red team” and have them come to buildings twice a week with Friday being online only.
The district also approved a safety plan that would implement enhanced cleaning and social distancing throughout the buildings. The rules would follow guidance laid out by health officials.
McGee said in-person learning would only take place if COVID-19 cases were low and the district had enough safety supplies and proper staffing levels.
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One of the delays in restarting in-person classes was the district having trouble finding extra staff to help with cleaning and making sure distancing was in place, McGee said.
School board member Marty Sullivan said he would like to have students back in classes but keeping students and staff healthy is extremely important.
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John Allen, the school board vice president, commended fellow school board members and the administration for their work to keep the public informed. He said he appreciated that the community was kept in the loop.
Board member Paul Saraullo commended the administration for working out the details of the plan with conditions constantly changing.
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School Board President Stephen Pirritano said the plan in Neshaminy “is the most flexible plan out there and gives us the most opportunity.” He said it allows the district to quickly pivot to adapt to the latest conditions.
“The most important thing is to make sure our students and staff are safe,” he said.
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The Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, and Pennsbury school district have already voted to start the year virtually.
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