Is the District requiring masks for students and staff on District transportation? *
On February 25, 2022, the CDC Order regarding public transportation was revised. The CDC is no longer requiring the wearing of masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems. As a result, masks will not be required by the District.

Effective February 11, 2022, masks will be a voluntary mitigation effort in all school, unless case counts in each individual building reach the thresholds outlined by the District (see slide above or COVID tracker for details).

Masks will not be required by the District for events or activities occurring outside normal school hours. This will include afterschool programming, sports, musicals, etc. at all grade levels, K-12.

An email and text message will be sent from the District to notify the school community of any changes in the masking requirement for the school building. Additionally, masking status will be indicated on the District's COVID tracker. 

For both staff and students, it is important to note that a doctor’s note alone is not sufficient documentation to exempt an individual from wearing a mask or face shield.  Approved medical exemptions from last year will be extended for those individuals who notify the administration in writing of the continued need for such accommodation.  

Staff – If a staff member believes he/she has a medical or mental health condition or disability that would inhibit him/her from wearing a face covering (i.e. a mask, face shield), please reach out to Mrs. Suzanne Tabachini, Director of Human Resources, to begin the one-on-one process of determining if an accommodation is appropriate.

 

Students – If your child has a medical or mental health condition or disability that you believe would inhibit him/her from wearing a face covering (i.e. a mask, face shield), and it has not already been documented, please reach out to your school principal to discuss your child’s need for accommodation. Documentation provided must be in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or IDEA of such medical or mental health condition or disability.

 

Refusal to wear a mask will result in a student being sent home. 

 

Due to logistical and operational challenges, such as staffing, as well as the general disruption to student learning, switching learning options will not occur before the start of the next marking period.

Families are strongly encouraged to monitor their children daily for symptoms and to contact their primary care provider when children are symptomatic. Families should also consider getting a COVID test when symptoms indicate possible COVID. If a student or staff member is ill during the school day, they will be sent to the nurse’s office for evaluation as they are anytime someone feels ill at school.

 

It is important to remember that although students and staff may be experiencing symptoms, they are not automatically presumed positive for COVID, and they may return to school/work when fever free or their symptoms have subsided for at least 24 hours.

 

It is important that families and staff communicate with school officials. Any individual who tests positive for COVID-19 or who shows signs or symptoms of illness should stay home and contact their health care provider for further guidance. 

 

Following updated guidance from the CDC, ill students can return to school and end isolation once the following are met: 5 days out from the start of the symptoms, AND fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication, AND symptoms have improved, AND wearing a mask around others for 5 days upon return.

 

Following any report of a positive case, health services staff will contact the PA DOH and follow any guidance to assist in contact tracing. Additionally, we will closely review any materials, equipment or areas of the building that may require additional cleaning or disinfecting prior to the next school day.

 

Effective February 11, 2022, the District will no longer conduct close contact tracing. Students and staff will not be required to quarantine for potential exposures occurring within our school buildings or during our programs.

Families are strongly encouraged to monitor their children daily for symptoms and to contact their primary care provider when children are symptomatic.

Please Note:  The above close contact procedures DO NOT apply to a student or staff member who is living with a COVID positive person. In those instances, they may not return to school/work until after their quarantine period unless they are vaccinated.

Click here to view the District's flowchart (updated December 29, 2021) developed to assist families and staff in determining the proper procedures should they test positive for COVID, report they are living with a COVID positive individual, or be identified as a close contact. 

We will provide a daily summary of student and staff reported active cases for each school. Click here to view the tracker, which will be updated at approximately noon each day students are in person.

 

There will not be a building-wide notification of positive COVID-19 cases like last school year, unless reported cases warrant additional mitigation efforts, such as a requirement to wear masks.

 

PDE/DOH have made resources and programs available to school districts to conduct COVID testing. The administration is currently gathering additional information about these resources. 

Current CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics guidance recommends in-person learning and a layered approach to keeping students and staff safe. 

 

The most important thing families can do to help limit the spread of COVID-19 is to check their children daily for any symptoms and keep them home from school if they are sick or have had close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19.

Volunteers will be permitted in our buildings to support educational projects and initiatives (Junior Achievement, reading, office support, PTO events, etc.). 

 

Visits for social purposes such as lunch with your child, etc. will not be permitted as a mitigation effort.

  

Secondary students will be provided with locker access this year.

Students will wear uniforms for physical education classes this year. Opportunities to purchase uniforms will be provided by the individual schools at back-to-school nights and through the Physical Education teachers.

 

It is always our goal to provide students with varied options that are healthy and meet the requirements of the National School Lunch Program. Options have been limited throughout the pandemic primarily due to staffing shortages in our kitchens. If you or anyone you know are interested in working in one of our kitchens, please visit our employment page or contact us for additional information.