Lawmakers hear schools face range of challenges in reopening

HARRISBURG, PA. » Pennsylvania state lawmakers heard about the slew of challenges ahead when schools reopen during a pandemic, as two days of hearings that ended Wednesday offered little reason for optimism.

In hours of testimony before the House Education Committee, school officials and other experts said there has been months of planning but there are also concerns about what lies ahead.

“How prepared are we? We’re as prepared as you possibly can be,” said John Callahan, lobbyist for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. “I think schools are taking every action they can, listening to every piece of advice.”

Among the issues are questions about what standards schools should use to decide whether to shut down a school or a district when an outbreak occurs, a prospect that looms large as the school year is about to begin.

“What happens if a student tests positive, a teacher?” asked Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-Schuylkill. “Because if you don’t have a plan in place, you can be prepared to hear exactly what we’ve been hearing, which is what the hell have you been doing to prepare for this?”

Bermudian Springs Superintendent Shane Hotchkiss, representing the state superintendents’ association before the committee, said the state Health Department has promised to respond to all outbreaks.

“We keep hearing that it’ll be handled on a caseby-case basis, about what to do, how to determine who’s been in close contact” with sick students or staff, Hotchkiss said.