Diocese delays start date for students in elementary
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh on Thursday said it would move the start date of its elementary schools to after Labor Day — more than a week after they were initially scheduled to hold their first classes.
The diocese said it made the decision after teachers asked for more time to implement COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
“We’ve had weekly communication with our principals, teachers and regional boards throughout the summer preparing for this very different school year,” Michelle Peduto, director of Catholic schools, said in a statement. “The reality is, we have been planning for something that nobody has all the answers for at the moment. We are aware that this is a time for us to be patient, open-minded and flexible to adapt to the needs of our teachers and school families.”
Catholic elementary schools will hold their first classes on Sept. 8 instead of Aug. 27, as initially planned. The start dates for high schools will remain the same.
The diocese said in July it planned to open its schools for inperson classes, with virtual instruction options available for students and parents who preferred them. The plans included adherence to federal, local and state health guidance, such as wearing masks and temperature screenings.
Because of the measures, teachers in the diocese wanted more time to set up their classrooms, prepare for distance learning and hold inservice days for health and safety training, Ms. Peduto said.
“I see it as an issue of well-being for our staff,” Ms. Peduto said. “We want to make sure everyone feels comfortable, confident and supported as we welcome our students back to school.”
The diocese also said Catholic schools and parishes must limit sports participation to practicing and conditioning in sports-specific cohorts with no travel to or competition with outside teams. All teams must be in compliance with local, state and federal guidelines and orders to avoid outright cancellation.
The diocese said the decision was made after reviewing Gov. Tom Wolf’s recommendations and directives regarding school athletics.