Parents push for updates on children returning to classrooms

Superintendent says plan already in place

Some parents addressing members of the Mt. Lebanon School Board during their Monday meeting wanted more information on when their children will be able to return to classroom education as opposed to learning remotely.

“I hear a lot of speculation and discussion regarding an actual plan, but we really haven’t seen one,” said Dan Bell. “Is there a written plan in the works for a phased return?”

Elizabeth Windsor said it was not clear what metrics the district is using to move onto the next phase of reopening.

“There’s a critical piece of information that’s missing,” she said. “I can’t see or hear anything logical that’s going to be different nine weeks from now.”

“We’re trying to make this nonemotional,” said parent Jesse Jenae. “It’s clearly about choice. We meet the criteria. It’s in black and white. We’re in the moderate. We want our kids to go back to school.”

“I feel you’re taking away my choice. It feels like you stabbed liberty in the face,” Mr. Jenae said. “We meet the metrics.”

Superintendent Timothy Steinhauer, who had recommended that the district employ remote learning at the start of the school year, directed the parents to the district’s website for information on the phased reopening plan, which describes “the condition and educational options we can look at when we meet the criteria established by the [state] Department of Health and the [state] Department of Education, and we will move toward those hybrid options.”

“The last I looked, the incidence rate per 100,000 residents was 42.7, and the percent positive rate over the most recent seven days was 4.3%, so we are getting toward those criteria,” Mr. Steinhauer said. “If the community transmission rate continues in those directions, then we will move toward reopening.”

“I continue to believe it is the safest, most prudent and effective manner to move forward with education in the midst of a public health pandemic,” he said.

He added that as incidence rates and percent positivity rates of COVID-19 lower, the district will “safely and gradually return students and staff to our school buildings.”

Mr. Steinhauer also thanked the board for supporting his recommendation for remote learning.

“I know it has been a long summer spent imagining what the next school year will look like,” said board President Sarah Olbrich. “Now that we know our path forward, my hope is that we all come together to focus on preparing our children for the start of school on Aug. 31.”

Mt. Lebanon also has an issue of teachers stating that they would not be able to return to school if it was in person.

At a previous meeting, Mr. Steinhauer said about 150 teachers and staff have indicated they would not be able to return to work in a traditional setting.