2 options offered for new school year

Online meeting Wednesday night, decision deadline is July 30

The Pottsgrove School District is giving families two choices for how students may go back to school for the coming school year.

The first is a “hybrid” program by which students physically attend school two days a week and attend the other three through online classes.

Those online classes would occur in both in real-time, or “synchronous” instruction, as well as in recorded lessons and online assignments and activities.

Students who use district transportation to get to school must wear masks and will be seated two per seat.

The second choice is all online, the district’s “virtual academy,” which will include “synchronous” and recorded instruction.

On Thursday, school families will receive communication from the district asking for a choice to be made for instruction and transportation for the year.

The district is giving families until July 30 at 3 p.m. to make their decision.

On Wednesday, a districtwide virtual town hall for parents will be held at 7 p.m. to better explain the choices.

Officials at the meeting, held via the Zoom meeting platform, will provide information regarding the upcoming release of the “Phased School Reopening Health and Safety Plan.”

The plan details how the district is planning for school reopening specific to cleaning, social distancing, and health monitoring. In addition, the education options for the school year will be reviewed, according to a letter from superintendent William Shirk emailed home to parents.

Prior to Wednesday’s parent town hall meeting, the district is collecting questions.

These questions will be used to better plan the town hall meeting to allow the answering of frequently asked questions.

In his letter to families, Shirk warned that while these are the plans now, circumstances may change, and therefore so may education plans.

“Pottsgrove School District is planning for these options as long as state, country, and public health advisories allow; however, these options may be adjusted with any new guidance,” Shirk wrote.

“Certainly, we do not have all the answers; however, we share a top priority to ensure the academic, behavioral, and social/ emotional needs of our students are met,” wrote Shirk. “I appreciate your continued understanding, patience, and assistance, as we continue to plan for the best educational environment for our students.”

All information, including registration for the meeting Wednesday, is also posted on the district website at www. pgsd.org.

The website also hosts an ongoing “Community Conversation” blog that has been established on the PGSD website at www.pgsd.org/coronavirus to collect feedback and questions.

This article first appeared as a post in The Digital Notebook blog.