Barron Trump’s school prohibited from in-person learning until October
As President Donald Trump continues to demand a return to in-person classes for schools around the country despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the school attended by his youngest son has received an order prohibiting on-campus learning for the start of the school year.
Montgomery County, Maryland, on Friday issued a directive demanding that private schools not conduct in-person learning until Oct. 1. Barron Trump, who is slated to enter ninth grade in the fall, attends St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, a private school in Potomac,
Maryland, part of Montgomery County.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have based our decisions on science and data,” Montgomery County Health Officer Travis Gayles said in a statement. “At this point the data does not suggest that in-person instruction is safe for students or teachers. We have seen increases in transmission rates for COVID-19 in the State of Maryland, the District of Columbia and the
Commonwealth of Virginia, particularly in younger age groups, and this step is necessary to protect the health and safety of Montgomery County residents.”
St. Andrew’s school administrators have stated a desire to start the school year in early September, on time and with in-person learning for the staff and students, according to a letter sent to parents last month and seen by CNN. However, the school noted a final decision was to be made during the week of Aug. 9-15.
“We are hopeful that in September most of our students will be able to return to on-campus learning and relationships,” wrote St. Andrew’s Head of School Robert Kosasky in a letter to parents. “We will continue to follow guidance of appropriate health officials and refine both our hybrid and distance learning plans.”
Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who has been a vocal critic of Trump on several matters pertaining to coronavirus and the federal response, disagreed with the Montgomery County directive, saying in a statement that the decision for private and parochial schools to open inperson or virtually should not be determined by politicians.