Guidance offered as school begins

CHADDS FORD » When will students be back in the classroom, what is the financial impact of providing protective equipment to students and teachers, will students be tested for coronavirus when they return to school, why are private and Catholic schools opening for in-person instruction when public schools are not, and what will the high school sports season look like this fall?

Those were just some of the questions asked Tuesday night in a Tele-Town Hall, sponsored by state Sen. Tom Killion, in which nearly 3,000 people participated. Providing answers were George Fiore, executive director of the Chester County Intermediate

Unit, Michael Barber, chairman of the PIAA’s District One and assistant superintendent in the Kennett Consolidated School District, and Marc Bertrando, superintendent of the Garnet Valley School District.

Killion, R-9th, of Middletown, said that although officials in every school district in Chester and Delaware counties are permitted to make their own decision on whether to offer in-person instruction, and whether to play fall sports, most of the decisions have been guided by recommendations of Gov. Tom Wolf and officials at the Chester County Department of Health. Those recommendations have been that schools should start the year virtually, and sports programs should be postponed.

“Different from guidelines or mandates, recommendations have no force of law or policy, but have understandably confused Pennsylvanians attempting to make sense of things in very difficult circumstances,” Killion said. “No forewarning had been given to organizations or administrators, touching off a scramble to determine a path forward for thousands of athletes, parents and coaches.”

Barber said that most schools opting to postpone fall sports will participate in voluntary off-season

workouts, while advocating for alternative solutions.

Bertrando, who said Garnet Valley schools had a successful virtual first day of school Monday, said it was quite a challenge over the summer to deliver technology, train teachers and paraprofessionals and ensure support staff was in place.

“In the days and weeks ahead, we will continue to provide educational programming the best way possible, which is virtual for now, but simultaneously planning to bring in cohorts of students into our schools as soon as possible,” Bertrando said.

A caller from Middletown, Delaware County, asked the panel their special consideration for getting students in grades K to 2 back in the classroom earlier, because they are at a vulnerable age.

“Our youngest learners are experiencing school for the first time, and virtually is a tall order,” Bertrando said. “It’s a tall order not only for children, but for our teachers. Teaching them how to sit quietly, how to cut, how to paste is difficult to do online.”

A caller from West Goshen asked why Catholic schools are opening for inschool instruction while most public schools are not. Fiore said public school officials have decided to adhere to guidance from county health officials. Chester County health officials said that by Oct. 9, districts in both counties that opted to follow the virtual guidance

can reassess whether to continue virtual instruction.

Schools providing special education, early childhood development programs, or career and vocational education are exempt from starting the academic year virtually. This category makes up about 20 percent of the school population in Garnet Valley.

Transitioning to a mostly in-person educational model can only be considered when thresholds are met for three consecutive weeks and at least a 0.5 percent cumulative decrease in positivity over the three weeks is reached, Fiore said.

“We’re getting there in terms of data and following public health officials’ guidance and recommendations,” he said.

A caller from Chadds Ford asked whether schools will be asking teachers to sign waivers if they develop symptoms.

“No school in Chester County will have staff sign waivers, and I’m not sure it would even hold up in court anyway,” Fiore said.

Another caller asked whether taxpayers would be covering the costs of protective equipment when education is delivered in hybrid models.

“In Garnet Valley, we paid for our PPE out of pocket,” Bertrando said. “We are providing it as an added cost we will need to bear.

Said Fiore: “Much of this burden will be borne by each school district.

There will be millions of dollars spent. It will be a significant cost in terms of staffing. The costs are actually quite astronomical and not budgeted at the local level.”

Killion said he voted for a $2.6 billion COVID-19 Impact Recovery Plan that includes over $200 million for coronavirus safety measures in the state’s schools.

“When I go back (in session) next week, I will advocate to get some of that money to our school districts to help with that cost because that’s what the money is there for,” Killion said.

A caller from Concord Township asked why school districts could not consider playing non-contact sports, like soccer or cross country.

“Each school district has the option to look at (this), or postponing and offering alternative solutions,” Barber said, adding that some school districts are offering these type of fall sports to the schedule.

A caller from Kennett Square asked the panel about the emotional toll the pandemic is having on students and not being able to be in the classroom.

Fiore said tele-therapy sessions started earlier this year. “I definitely understand this is an issue now, and in the future, and we will be dealing with this post-COVID,” Fiore said.

Bertrando said school counselors, psychologists and other emotional health experts are involved in the decision to eventually reopen.