The additional guidance released today by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) was needed and warranted and we trust this information will be helpful for local school leaders in making informed decisions for their school districts.
The timing of its release, however, is at a point where school leaders are far along the path of planning for school reopening. Their plans have been discussed and researched over the summer months and in numerous cases, districts have publicly announced the instructional model(s) available to their students.
We know that school leaders will continue to assess new information as it’s made available and will make the best-suited and safest decisions for their students, staff and communities-at-large. And we also know that the solutions will not be identical district-to-district, due to the unique needs and resources of each community.
“School leaders may find challenges in assessing these latest recommendations and incorporating them into reopening plans already formulated and announced, but we know they will continue looking to PDE and the DOH for ongoing, timely updates to best-inform their evolving decisions,” commented Nathan Mains, PSBA Chief Executive Officer.
PSBA continues to urge the Wolf Administration to provide as much information to local districts in a timely manner. Pennsylvania’s local school boards will continue to review and update their health and safety plans to ensure a safe reopening of schools.
