Cesa Pusateri, 12, and her grandfather, Timothy Waxenfelter, principal of Quigley Catholic High School, leave with his collection of speech and debate books after the recent closure of the school in Baden, Pa., Monday, June 8, 2020. According to the National Catholic Educational Association, at least 100 schools have announced in recent weeks that they won't reopen this fall. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
Cesa Pusateri, 12, and her grandfather, Timothy Waxenfelter, principal of Quigley Catholic High School, leave with his collection of speech and debate books after the recent closure of the school in Baden, Pa., Monday, June 8, 2020. According to the National Catholic Educational Association, at least 100 schools have announced in recent weeks that they won't reopen this fall. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
(Harrisburg) — Midstate school districts are trying to figure out how to reopen schools this fall – amid the coronavirus pandemic.
They are reaching out to health experts, parents, and teachers to figure out what the best approach could be.
Most districts are looking at a combination of online instruction and in-person classes with social distancing measures
John Callahan is with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.
He tells WITF’s Smart Talk any approach needs to be coordinated across the region.
“There are so many components. Transportation. Getting the student into the school. Screenings. Then after that, what do you do with the hallways and social distancing?” he said. “All of those little pieces have to come together in a larger plan.”
Matt Rourke / AP Photo
School staff pack grab-and-go meals for distribution to students and families at John H. Webster Elementary School in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 25, 2020.
Callahan says school should have their plans approved by the end of the month.
But he adds they need to be flexible as scientists learn more about COVID-19 and the threat of community spread remains.
Pennsylvania State Education Association President Rich Askey says any reopening depends on schools having the resources and personnel needed to implement safety procedures.
At this point, many districts simply don’t have the money to be prepared
Askey is calling on Congress to approve $175 billion in emergency funding o hire additional personal and purchase sanitation products.
“Every school needs to have that reopening plan in place. It has to be informed by good data, and the advice of doctors and experts,” he said.
Schools that plan to bring students back into the building will need personal protective equipment like masks along with hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes.
They may also need more staff to facilitate and enforce social distancing practices.
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