City public schools continue to advance toward reopening

The Pittsburgh Public Schools on Wednesday took small steps toward reopening a day after the district released its preliminary plan to get students back into the classroom.

School board members gave approval to a number of requests district administrators had sought for starting the academic year amid a global pandemic.

Discussion on the overall reopening plan was limited, however, even though the board will vote next week on the district’s proposed health and safety guidelines. School board President Sylvia Wilson said the board members would have a more in-depth dialogue at their July 22 meeting, when they are expected to vote on the plan.

Board members approved moving the first day of class for all students back several days so that teachers will have additional time for professional development. The first day for students in pre-K and first through 12th grade will be on Aug. 31. The first day of kindergarten will be Sept. 3.

The board also gave the OK for school athletics to start — as long as students have a parent or guardian sign a waiver acknowledging the dangers of such activities during COVID-19.

The district said it will try to resume athletic activities as safely as possible and will provide

guidelines that must be followed by coaches, parents and students.

The guidelines require that student athletes, coaches and other staff receive daily temperature checks; must bring their own water, towels and other items; and wipe down exercise equipment after each use. Coaches and staff members must wear masks at all times, and student athletes can only take off their face masks when actively participating in a workout session.

“The purpose of this [plan] is to put in place guidelines as well as provide information to coaches and families about what restarting athletics look like in Pittsburgh Public Schools,” said David MayStein, chief of school performance.

The board also got a glimpse of what personal protective equipment would cost the district.

The district wants to buy 240,000 disposable face masks to be distributed to staff members as needed for a price of no more than $50,400.

It also wants to purchase 6,000 desk guards and 200 countertop sneeze guards for a price of up to $205,150.

Board member Terry Kennedy questioned why administrators only asked to purchase 6,000 desk guards in a district with roughly 23,000 students and thousands more teachers and staff members.

Pam Capretta, the district’s chief operations officer, said that was because the desk guards would only be given to teachers. The guards can be used when close contact between a teacher and pupil is needed, and students will have 6 to 8 feet between their desks.

“These items cost roughly $45 apiece,” Ms. Capretta said. “We would not have the funding to provide that [to all students].”