Chester County too restrictive in allowing schools to open

This week, the West Chester Area School District Board voted 6 to 3 in favor of returning to a hybrid model in mid- October for Elementary and early November for Secondary. It was a very long meeting, 3.5 hours and it included comments from Jeanne Casner, the Chester County Health Department Director.

Our group is pushing for a return to a full 5 days of instruction for those who want that, not a hybrid model. And what has become increasingly clearer every day is that the reason that Districts did not open at all to start the school year and now are moving to hybrid, not 5 full days is due to Jeanne Casner’s “guidance” regarding schools opening.

Due to her “guidance,” schools will never be able to return to a 5 full day model because she is requiring 6 feet of social distancing at all times, in addition to wearing masks at all times. The state department of education guidelines state that 6 feet is required, if feasible.

So if a district wanted to utilize 3 feet of distancing, they have the ability to do so per the State; however, schools in Chester and Delaware are being told by the county that they should not do this. And the problem is that no School Board wants to go against the County “guidance.” Therefore, unless she changes her guidance, we will never return to 5 full days.

In addition to the Chester County Health Department guidance differing fromthe State, it also differs from the surrounding county Health Departments. Her guidance is the most restrictive in the area. Our group put together a chart comparing the surrounding counties Health Department’s guidance, and as you will see, Chester County is the most restrictive. This is why schools in Montgomery and Bucks counties have already opened.

The West Chester School Board members questioned Casner about her guidance, and her responses were not clear or definitive. Other than blaming college students for an increase in cases, she offered no real clarification. When asked why Chester County guidance is different, she stated that it was not really that different, when in fact, that is not the case.

We continue to press the Chester County Commissioners to hold Casner accountable and get her to back off the more restrictive guidance and allow School Boards to make the best decisions for their students. Absent a change in position, we will be in a hybrid model for the rest of the school year and possibly longer.

I simply do not understand how one woman can impact the fate of almost 200,000 children and their ability to attend school in person.