Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Downingtown commits to virtual learning through Nov. 5
DOWNINGTOWN »
Students in the Downingtown Area School District will utilize remote learning for the entire first marking period which runs through Nov. 5, Superintendent Emilie Lonardi said.
“I have been agonizing over this very difficult decision for the entire summer,” Lonardi said. “Back on March 13 when we closed, I never imagined in a million years we would be in this place still thinking whether or not it would be safe to reopen school”
Lonardi said she based her decision after receiving input from officials at the state Department of Education and the Chester County Health Department. She said it is very concerning that there has been nearly a 65 percent increased in coronavirus cases in Chester County in the past week, and the age group affected most is 15 to 30.
“This crisis is going in the wrong direction,” she said. “I certainly thought on March 13 we would be open, but that is not the case.”
Ultimately, she said, the decision was centered around safety.
“I am thinking about precisely one thing – the safety of our 13,000 students and safety of our 1,600 staff members,” she said, adding that many staff members said they were concerned about coming back to school in the fall in the middle of a pandemic.
Lonardi said ACP (A Child’s Place) will assist on daycare needs for parents of essential workers, or even those parents working from home and find it difficult to do so with children in the house.
The remote learning instruction this fall in Downingtown will not resemble the online instruction that was offered when schools closed in March.
“This online plan will not look like the spring closure,” Lonardi said. “It will be more rigorous, more engaging. Students will have live instruction, and virtually interact with counselors and other school professionals. Teachers will have students interact with each other in a collaborative manner.”
The district’s online instruction plan will be complete sometime next week, and information sent out to parents.
“I more than anyone want our students back in school,” she said. “Our teachers are awesome and work best when in front of children. We will get students back to school as soon as we believe it is safe to do so.”