Students in the Pennsbury School District will be returning to classrooms four days per week.
The school board’s 7-1 decision Thursday evening was buoyed by Gov. Tom Wolf’s recent announcement that school staff members will be entitled to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine that recently received emergency use authorization from federal officials.
Advertisements
The district, which is in a two-day in-person per week hybrid model across grade levels, will continue to offer a virtual-only option for students.
The district plans to return elementary students to classrooms four days per week on Mondays through Thursdays starting Monday, March 29. Middle and high schoolers will return four days per week starting Monday, April 12. At all grade levels, Fridays will continue to be remote learning days. (See the presentation given Thursday)
Surveys on whether students will return in-person or be virtual-only will be sent to parents.
Advertisements
Superintendent Dr. William Gretzula said schools will continue to enforce mitigation measures, including masking and physical distancing. In some cases, students may be seated less than six feet apart from one another to fit all students.
Lunches will be free for all students and be distributed in grab-and-go bags. Most students in the elementary and middle schools will eat in their classrooms.
Advertisements
Pennsbury will be adding temporary school aides to assist in buildings, Gretzula said.
Pennsbury Director of Pupil Services Elizabeth Aldridge said the district’s health and safety plan will be updated to accommodate the four-day per week model, including altering the six-feet distancing language to “the maximum distance possible with the goal of a minimum of three-foot distancing” and allow for three kids per bus seat only if all three live in one house.
Board member Chip Taylor voted against the plan and raised concern about safety, including that there is a 14-day period for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to become effective. He asked his fellow board members to keep the return dates flexible.
Advertisements
There has been pressure on the district from parents to return students to classrooms for a longer duration at recent meetings.
School board members praised the work of district staff for their efforts during the pandemic.
Advertisements
“We’re trying to protect kids, we’re trying to protect staff, we’re trying to protect staff who are mothers and fathers who have children. We do care about children and we do care about the children of our staff members. It’s been a real juggling act,” board member Debra Wachspress said. “I just feel a real sense of hope I haven’t felt in 12 months.”
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
