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PA Ed Policy Roundup for March 24, 2020
PSBA Coronavirus Webinar Series: Next
webinar - Tuesday, March 24 at 6:00 p.m. featuring PSBA Chief Advocacy Officer
John Callahan presenting the latest legislative updates related to COVID-19.
Register here: https://t.co/BNcJin9hCg https://t.co/ohF5i2Zwkb
PA Department of Education Message from Secretary Pedro
Rivera March 23, 2020
Dear Colleague,
This afternoon (March 23, 2020), Governor
Wolf will issue a stay-at-home order for seven counties in Pennsylvania
(Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Monroe, Montgomery, and Philadelphia). Under
Governor Wolf’s order, personnel at our educational entities in all 67 counties
who are providing life-sustaining services, including, but not limited to:
administration, food preparation and distribution, housing, security,
information technology, building maintenance, and operations (e.g., payroll)
can continue to be deemed essential and are permitted to continue their work,
provided they adhere to social distancing guidelines.
In addition, the Department of Education
(PDE) announced today all schools in the commonwealth will remain closed
through at least April 6 as a result of the COVID-19 response efforts. The
closure order could be extended beyond April 6 if necessary to save lives and
stop the spread of COVID-19. Under the new timeline, school buildings would
reopen on April 7 for two days to allow school administrators, teachers and
other staff time to prepare classrooms, set up cafeterias, schedule
transportation and arrange other business operations. Students would return to
school on April 9, unless extending the closure is needed in response to the situation
with the virus at that time. To assist schools during the extended closure, the
state’s 29 intermediate units are ready to provide technical assistance to help
develop continuity of education plans for all students beginning tomorrow,
Tuesday, March 24. Additionally, we are cancelling standardized testing for
students in career and technical education (CTE) programs for the 2019-20
school year. These include exams from the National Occupational Competency
Testing Institute (NOCTI) and National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS).
I appreciate your patience and flexibility as
we navigate this unprecedented time together and thank you for your dedication
to serving and supporting your school communities.
Pa. schools close till April 6; long-term closures
expected elsewhere amid coronavirus outbreak
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham and Maddie
Hanna, Updated: March 23, 2020-
4:58 PM
As the number of coronavirus cases balloons
around the country and across the region, schools are bracing for longer-term
closures. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday that schools,
initially shut through Friday, will remain closed at least through April 6 and
possibly longer “if necessary to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19.” “The
number of positive cases increases daily, and we’re seeing it spread to more
counties,” Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera said in the statement.
“We must adhere to the social distancing guidelines. Extending the closure will
help every community in its efforts to mitigate the spread.” Rivera said he had
directed the state’s 29 intermediate units to help districts prepare
“continuity of learning plans,” including procedures for students with
disabilities and English language learners. Asked what impact the extended
closure might have on graduation, Wolf said officials “haven’t decided yet.”
State closes schools at least through April 6, likely
longer
Hite sends new guidance to District staff
saying it is working on a remote learning plan and is exploring ways of
providing technology, internet access to families
The notebook by Dale
Mezzacappa March 23
— 6:36 pm, 2020
Updated 8:15 p.m. with new guidance from
Superintendent Hite to District staff
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has
closed schools at least through April 6 due to COVID-19 – with a caveat the
shutdown could last longer. In Philadelphia, a one-week spring break is
scheduled to begin on that day. At the daily city press briefing,
Superintendent William Hite said the District is making plans for an even
longer time out of school. On Thursday, it will make available another set of
printed learning guides for home use – they are also available online – that
will last for 10 additional days. Hite recommended that students finish the
activities in the current learning guides this week and begin working on the
new guides next week. The District is also looking into the possibility of
distributing laptops and tablets to students, and providing internet access to
families that don’t have it, he said. “We are making a long-range plan,” Hite
said. “We are beginning to explore ways to provide technology for more young
people and broadband access in the event that this goes even longer.” Later,
District officials said they are drawing on corporate partners and foundations
that have been offering help to see what can be done if the shutdown
lasts the rest of the school year, as many people expect. The District now has
a hotline available in 10 languages, including English, where parents and
students can call for help with the learning guides, Hite said. The other
languages are Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, French, Khmer, Portuguese, Russian,
Spanish and Vietnamese.
Western Pa. school district leaders react to closure
extension
Trib Live by TEGHAN
SIMONTON | Monday,
March 23, 2020 6:23 p.m.
Public schools will be closed for two more
weeks, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced Monday, extending
Gov. Tom Wolf’s mandated closure to at least April 6. It is unclear how the
extension will affect schools’ 180-day requirement for instruction. “The number
of positive cases increases daily, and we’re seeing it spread to more
counties,” Secretary of Education Pedro Rivero said in a statement. “We must
adhere to the social distancing guidelines. Extending the closure will help
every community in its efforts to mitigate the spread.” In a news release,
Rivera said districts can work with intermediate units to establish “continuity
of education plans” during the added closure to develop instructional plans.
However, the Department of Education did not respond to an inquiry of how the
closure will impact the 180-day requirement.
Pennsylvania school closures extended through at least
April 6 because of coronavirus
By JACQUELINE PALOCHKO THE MORNING
CALL | MAR 23, 2020 | 7:07 PM
Gov. Tom Wolf ordered K-12 schools to remain
closed through at least April 6 because of the coronavirus that is spreading
across Pennsylvania, prompting a number of Lehigh Valley districts to announce
they will start online learning next week. The state said in an announcement
Monday afternoon that the shutdown could be extended beyond April 6 if needed
to stop the spread of the coronavirus. When the state determines that students
can return to school, administrators, teachers and staff will have two days to
prepare facilities. Students will then return on the third day, meaning April 9
if the closure is not extended. “Protecting the health and safety of students,
families, teachers and all employees who work in our schools is paramount
during this national health crisis and we must continue our efforts to mitigate
the spread of the virus,” state Education Secretary Pedro Rivera said. “The
number of positive cases increases daily and we’re seeing it spread to more
counties. We must adhere to the social distancing guidelines. Extending the
closure will help every community in its efforts to mitigate the spread.”
Coronavirus update: Wolf issues stay-at-home order for
Philly suburbs, extends school closures
WHYY By Avi
Wolfman-Arent March
23, 2020
Updated 6:50 p.m.: To date,
there are 644 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania, 2,844 in
New Jersey, and 87 cases in Delaware. Philadelphia has 175 cases.
Wolf extends school closures; issues
stay-at-home order for Philly suburbs
Gov. Tom Wolf issued a “stay-at-home” order today
for Philadelphia and its suburbs, as well as Monroe and Allegheny counties,
taking the fight against the coronavirus to a new level by requiring residents
to remain inside except for essential trips such as buying food or seeking
medical help. The order applies to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and
Montgomery Counties in the southeast, Monroe County in the northeast, and
Allegheny County in Western Pennsylvania. The order takes effect at 8 p.m. and
will remain in place for two weeks, Wolf said. Also, the governor extended
school closures in Pennsylvania for another two weeks. “These restrictions are
unlike anything we’ve experienced before,” Wolf said at a news conference. “If
we want to save lives, we must distance ourselves socially. This is going to be
difficult.”
Parenting during the pandemic
WHYY Radio Times Air Date: March 24,
2020 10:00 am
Guests: William Hite, Tina Bryson, Imani
Perry
Families are under an incredible amount of
stress right now. They are of course worried about COVID-19 but many parents
are also worried about their jobs, about paying the bills, and about putting
food on the table. And on top of all that, schools are closed and parents are
caring for their kids around the clock and even trying to homeschool them. This
hour, we’ll talk with psychologist TINA
BRYSON about the strain families are
feeling and healthy ways they can try to cope. We’ll also hear from IMANI PERRY, author
of Breathe: A Letter to My Sons, about how she’s spending time at
home with her two teenagers. But first, we start off looking at how Philadelphia’s
school students are doing and how the district is trying to meet their needs.
Philadelphia School District Superintendent WILLIAM
HITE joins us to talk about the support
they are providing their families.
“Pennsylvania has one of the largest funding gaps in the country
between low-wealth and high-wealth school districts. Our state ranks 44th in
the share of school funding that comes from the state, and local taxpayers are
taking on the lion's share of rising fixed costs. Right now, we are
representing six school districts across the state in a lawsuit that takes on
this inequitable and inadequate school funding system.”
Now more than ever: How we're taking on Pennsylvania
school funding inequality
Public Interest Law Center Webinar Online via Zoom Thursday,
March 26, 1:00-2:30 p.m.
As schools across the state close in response
to COVID-19, students in some districts get school-issued laptops, and students
in ZIP codes a few miles away are receiving little or no instruction. This
crisis has made the divide between the haves and have-nots more clear than ever
before. Join us March 26 for a free online webinar to learn the root causes of
these funding disparities, and what we are doing to change them. Cost: Free
Pa. legislature pledges transparency as it prepares to
vote remotely on coronavirus relief
Inquirer by
Gillian McGoldrick of LNP | LancasterOnline, Updated: March
23, 2020- 6:17 PM
This story was produced as part of a joint
effort among Spotlight
PA, LNP
Media Group, PennLive, PA
Post, and WITF to
cover how Pennsylvania state government is responding to the coronavirus. Sign
up for Spotlight PA’s newsletter.
HARRISBURG — When the Pennsylvania House
meets this week, its 203 members won’t pack into the ornate Capitol chamber
where they usually gather. Instead, most lawmakers will tune in remotely to
consider a bill that moves the state’s primary election to June 2. Members of
the public will be able to watch what happens by livestream, a measure both the
House and Senate are taking to ensure there’s
transparency during the coronavirus outbreak. Committee meetings — which
usually involve cramming two dozen lawmakers plus members of the public into a
small room — will also be streamed live. “One commitment that we do have is to
be as transparent as absolutely possible,” Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman
(R., Centre) said last week. Pennsylvania law says state government entities
may only take action during an open and public meeting, with some modifications
available during an emergency, according to Erik Arneson, executive director of
the state Office of Open Records. But keeping a meeting open and accessible to
the public contradicts federal COVID-19 guidelines. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention recommends canceling
all gatherings of more than 10 people and keeping at least six feet away from
another person. When public meetings are done remotely, Arneson said lawmakers
must be able “to participate in some way.” While most members of the House do
not need to attend proceedings in Harrisburg, only members present on the floor
may speak about a bill, said Mike Straub, spokesperson for House Majority
Leader Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster).
Paying for an Inequitable Education System. Will We
Actually Learn Our Lesson?
Medium.com by State Senator Lindsey M. Williams Mar 23 · 4 min
read
A little over two weeks ago, I was excitedly
preparing for my first policy hearing, which was originally scheduled to happen
on March 26th, but is now postponed, entitled “Hearing from the Future: Student
Voices on Education.” It was going to be the first hearing in the Commonwealth
that was entirely student driven. All ten of my school districts in Senate
District 38 were participating, as well as a brick and mortar charter school
and a cyber charter school. As part of my preparation for the hearing, I met
with groups of students from each of the participating schools. I explained
what a policy hearing was and why I wanted to do one on education policy
entirely from the student perspective. I told them that every time I meet with
students, I learn something new and I wanted other Senators to have that
experience. I told them that they have a unique perspective and they shouldn’t
hesitate to use their voices. I emphasized that I still represent them even if
they aren’t old enough to vote yet. After my introductory explanation, I opened
up the floor for discussion and questions. Time after time, they didn’t
disappoint. With every new group of students, they brought up an issue I hadn’t
thought about or asked me a question I’ve never been asked. I couldn’t wait for
the policy hearing.
‘The biggest feeling is sadness’: With classes canceled,
teachers try to keep teaching | Lloyd Sheaffer
PA Capital Star By Lloyd E. Sheaffer - March
24, 2020
Opinion contributor Lloyd E. Sheaffer, a
retired English and Humanities teacher, writes from North Middleton
Township, Pa.
It has already become a stale Facebook
meme: “Homeschooling is going well. Two students suspended for fighting
and one teacher fired for drinking on the job.”
A week ago it was worth a chuckle; today it
more likely elicits a strained Tell me about it!”
Parents need to be parents, not substitute
teachers or digital lesson monitors. Parents have more than enough to deal with
during this pandemic which has locked many of them out of their work places and
pulled the plug on their paychecks. “It’s the new normal” has become the
robo-response to most matters in these frightening days of the health epidemic
infecting the world. If that is the case, I am tormented by what “the new
normal” will mean for the institution that is dear to me—the public education
system and its beneficiaries, the students. As a teacher, retired and long in
the tooth admittedly, I know how important one-to-one contact is for effective
learning to take place; the loss of such contact is one reason I have always
been opposed to cyber charter schools. Now we are facing the possibility that
no-personal-contact distance teaching might need to proliferate.
Pittsburgh-area newspapers cut staff, suspend print
editions as pandemic guts ad revenues
JOYCE GANNON Pittsburgh Post-Gazette jgannon@post-gazette.com MAR 23,
2020 3:03 PM
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a harsh toll
on news media in the Pittsburgh region including layoffs, suspension of print
editions and, in at least one case, permanent closure. All of the moves are
tied to a significant loss of advertising revenues for publishing outlets in
the last couple weeks as businesses were shuttered, and sports and cultural
events came to a grinding halt. Trib Total Media on Monday combined its two
print editions — the Westmoreland edition based in Greensburg, and the
Valley News Dispatch based in Tarentum — into one edition saying it is
“confronting serious losses during the coronavirus pandemic.” The publishing company also laid off staff on
Friday. In a statement to readers published in Monday’s edition, Jennifer
Bertetto, president and chief executive, said the combination of its editions
“is a temporary adjustment in reaction to extraordinary circumstances.”
With schools closed until April 6, PIAA extends shutdown
of high school sports
Lancaster Online by MIKE
GROSS | Sports Writer March 23, 2020
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic
Association is putting high school sports on hold again to battle the
coronavirus pandemic. The announcement, made on the PIAA website Monday
afternoon, comes in the wake of Gov. Tom Wolf extending the closing of
Commonwealth schools through April 6, also announced Monday. No official
date has been determined to resume the state’s scholastic sports. The spring
sports season was scheduled to begin March 20, with the exception of boys
tennis, for which the regular season had already begun when schools were first
closed March 16. The possibility still exists of continuing the state
tournaments in boys and girls basketball, which are at the quarterfinal stage,
and the Class 2A swimming and diving championships, which are the only
unfinished parts of the winter sports season. “... the winter championships
will continue to be on hold,’’ the PIAA statement says. “No date has been
determined to restart any sports activities at this time.’’
Commonwealth Charter Academy Donates Nearly 40 Pounds of
Produce to Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
Penn Watch By Editor March
22, 2020
Commonwealth Charter Academy donated 39
pounds of lettuce to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, in an effort to help
central Pennsylvania families have access to food during the coronavirus
pandemic. The produce was grown by CCA students at the school’s aquaponics
facility, AgWorks at CCA. “The mission of AgWorks at CCA is not only to provide
our students with an agriculture and career-learning experience, but also teach
them about serving and giving back to their communities,” said Dr. Maurice
Flurie, president and CEO of CCA. “We have partnered with the Central
Pennsylvania Food Bank since we launched AgWorks at CCA in 2018, and we feel
this is an important time to support the food bank and the communities they
serve.” CCA harvested and donated 32 pounds of Salanova Red Butter lettuce and
seven pounds of Five-Star lettuce mix, which equates to 312 entree salads or
487 side salads. Since 2018, CCA students have grown, harvested and donated
nearly 500 pounds of lettuce for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
Educators 'scrambling' to continue special ed services as
nearly all states close schools
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said
it was "extremely disappointing" districts opted to close without
remote learning "out of fear" they would be unable to serve students
with disabilities.
Education Dive AUTHOR Naaz
Modan@NaazModan PUBLISHED March
23, 2020
Extended school closures are becoming the
norm as the novel coronavirus spreads and districts are moving to put in place
equitable remote learning systems as a result. But how those systems will
ensure a free and appropriate public education for students with disabilities,
who are among those hit hardest by closures, is still uncertain. In
guidance released Saturday, the U.S. Department of Education urged districts to
"pull together to do what’s right for our nation’s students,"
according to a press release. “It was extremely disappointing to hear that some
school districts were using information from the Department of Education as an
excuse not to educate kids,” Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said in
the statement, adding schools should continue distance learning through
building closures "rather than educate no students out of
fear."
House Coronavirus Bill Would Direct Billions to Schools,
Fund Remote Learning
Education Week By Andrew Ujifusa on March
23, 2020 9:41 PM
Stimulus legislation in the U.S. House of
Representatives to cope with impact of the coronavirus pandemic would create a
$50 billion fund to stabilize states' education budgets, including a minimum of
roughly $15 billion specifically for K-12 school districts. In addition,
the House's Take Responsibility for
Workers and Families Act would loosen rules under the
E-Rate program in order to help schools and other organizations provide
internet-connected devices and mobile broadband internet access to students.
And it would provide $200 million to Project SERV grants, which assist schools
that are affected by natural disasters and community violence, as well as
additional money for Head Start. The bill would "provide emergency
funds for our schools and universities," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said
in a Monday announcement. The $50 billion State Fiscal Stabilization
Fund for education in the House Democrats' bill would be available until
September 2022. The fund is $30 billion bigger than the proposed education
fund in the Senate coronavirus legislation from Republicans that was introduced
late last week,which has been the subject of intense negotiations since,
including at least two failed procedural votes as of late Monday. There's
intense demand from the K-12 community for Washington to provide a
significant stimulus for schools, in order
to help them weather the impacts of the coronavirus on the economy, tax
revenues, and upcoming state budgets. But there's a long way to go before House
and Senate agree on a "Phase III" stimulus package to send to
President Donald Trump.
The Education World Wants a Coronavirus Stimulus. What
Would Help the Most?
Education Week By Andrew Ujifusa on March
22, 2020 12:41 PM
This post has been updated to reflect a
revised version of Senate Republican coronavirus stimulus legislation released
Sunday:
As schools have shut
down across America, the nation's education community is
beginning to pressure Washington for stimulus funding to help weather the
coronavirus pandemic. But what could and should a K-12 stimulus actually look
like? Legislation from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to shore up
the nation's economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, introduced by the Kentucky
Republican on March 19, is moving fast— a final vote in the Senate is expected
soon. An updated version of the
legislation released March 22 includes a few
key provisions regarding education spending.
- The
legislation would create an Education Stabilization Fund of $20 billion for
K-12 education and higher education; at least 60 percent of that money
would be for K-12 schools. Sixty percent would be distributed to states
using the Title II-A formula, and districts would have to receive at least
80 percent of that funding from states via the Title I formula. These
funds could support activities authorized under laws like the Every
Student Succeeds Act and the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act;
planning for long-term closures; helping to sanitize schools; provide
mental health supports, and purchase educational technology.
- In
addition, 10 percent of that $20 billion program would go to a Governor's
Emergency Education Relief Fund. Governors could use that money to support
local K-12 districts as well as colleges and universities.
The bill hit a stumbling block, however, when
it failed a procedural vote March 22.
12 Critical Issues in Education Due to the Coronavirus
Education Week By Peter DeWitt on March
23, 2020 7:05 AM
At the end of December, I posted a column
focusing on 12 critical issues facing education in
2020. Although I stick by all of them, I
clearly missed a very big critical crisis that we are now facing in 2020, and
that is Covid-19. If you told me that we would be seeing thousands of people
around the world contracting a disease, the NBA suspending its season, March
Madness canceled (although we are experiencing our own March Madness right
now), Disney World and Disneyland closing, countries closing their borders to
prevent the spread of the disease, and the U.S. president doing briefing
sessions every single day to announce new precautions, I would have thought it
was the trailer to a new Hollywood blockbuster. I kept waiting for
Will Smith to enter into the movie at any time. We now know that this is our
reality, and not a movie at all. For full disclosure, I go through a
daily dose of feeling optimistic that we will all get through this and a few
moments of sadness at the state of the world. So, because I clearly missed a
critical issue on my list from the end of 2019, I thought I would offer a list
of critical issues that are developing because of the coronavirus. Most times,
writing is my way of working through an issue, and one of the feelings that I
am consistently trying to come back to is that, through all of the devastation
this has occurred around the world, we need to find moments of
positivity.
Did The Department Of Education Just Okay Ignoring IDEA
During Coronavirus School Shutdowns?
Forbes by Peter
Greene Senior Contributor Mar 22, 2020,04:08pm
EDT
Last Tuesday, in the face of nationally
widespread school closures, the United States Department of Education
issued guidelines “to remind school leaders at the
elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels of their legal obligations to
ensure that all students, including students with disabilities, can access
online and virtual learning programs.” The Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
mandates that all school districts must provide “a free
appropriate public education (FAPE) to children with disabilities.” The
Education Department seemed to be reminding districts of their obligation to
provide equal education to all students; now the federal government seems to be
changing its mind. IDEA has presented a stumbling block to many districts that
wanted to shift to distance learning. Philadelphia is just one school district that
mandated that no teaching done via computer during the coronavirus hiatus could be counted toward grades, in part
because of concerns that some students’ special needs could not be met through
a distance learning program.
A new comet is brightening quickly
By Dave
Samuhel, AccuWeather senior meteorologist WEATHER BLOGS Updated
Mar. 23, 2020 11:39 AM
Running out of things to do while being stuck
at home? Take a look at the night sky! Plus, the sky has a new addition. Comet
ATLAS (C/2019 Y4) is gaining a lot of attention as it plunges towards the sun.
The comet is about two months away from making its closest approach to the sun.
The comet has become much brighter in the last two weeks. This brightening will
continue if, and only if, there is enough debris for the sun to burn off. No
one knows how big this comet is. The comet could be vaporized before becoming
bright enough to put on an awesome show. However, there are some estimates that
it will become brighter than Venus in the coming weeks and could even be seen
during the daylight hours.
The Weight | Featuring Robbie Robertson and Ringo Starr|
Playing For Change | Song Around The World
YouTube Video Runtime: 5:46 5,671,142
views •Sep 18, 2019
.@PSBA with .@PASBO_org .@PasaSupts .@PSEA .@PAPRINCIPALS .@PAIU .@AFTPA .@afscmecouncil13 and .@32BJSEIU call upon
legislators to implement state-level policy for next steps in coming back from
the battle against coronavirus
Read their March 18th joint letter
to PA Legislative Leadership here:
PSBA FAQ Sheet Regarding Closure of School Due to Coronavirus
PSBA has compiled answers to your most
pressing questions surrounding school closures due to the #coronavirus outbreak.
View this resource here:
PSBA establishes channel to answer COVID-19 questions
POSTED ON MARCH 19, 2020 IN PSBA
NEWS
In light of statewide school closings and as
the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve, PSBA is here to provide support to
members and answer questions regarding how schools will operate, meet
instructional requirements and provide services both now and in the future.
Please send your questions to request@psba.org with
your name, district and contact information. A member of PSBA staff will
respond directly or will funnel your inquires to the Pennsylvania Department of
Education. PSBA will act as your voice and ensure you receive the answers and
information you need to make decisions at this crucial time.
PSBA: Coronavirus Preparedness Guidance
In the last few weeks, the novel coronavirus
(SARS-CoV-2), which causes the respiratory illness COVID-19, has become a topic
of concern nationwide. Although the virus is not widespread in Pennsylvania at
this time, that status could change. Being proactive is key to prevention and
mitigation. Below, you will find a list of resources on all aspects of
preparedness, including guidance on communication planning, policy, emergency
management and disease control. Use these resources to help you make decisions
regarding the safety and health of those in your school district.
The former Sectional Meetings have been converted to a webinar
format. PSBA will be hosting six webinars (starting today), presented by an
expert on critical and timely topics related to #Coronavirus (COVID-19).
PSBA: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Schools:
Webinar Series
As PSBA announced in an email on
March 12, the former Sectional Meetings have been converted to a webinar format
to comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.
Each of the six upcoming virtual sessions will be offered as a one-hour
webinar: a 45-minute presentation by an expert on critical and timely topics;
communication practices during the coronavirus pandemic; the business of boards
during shutdown; facilities restoration and clean-up, and other essential
topics. Each session will include 15 minutes of direct Q&A at the conclusion
of the 45-minute content presentation.
Members are welcome to register for any of
the six complimentary webinars.
All webinar sessions are 6:00 p.m. to 7:00
p.m.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 Prepare. Don’t
Panic. Responding to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Medical Guidance for Schools
Presenter: Raghavendra Tirupathi, MD, FACP – Medical Director, Keystone Infectious Diseases; Chair, Infection Prevention, Wellspan Chambersburg & Waynesboro Hospital and member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society
Presenter: Raghavendra Tirupathi, MD, FACP – Medical Director, Keystone Infectious Diseases; Chair, Infection Prevention, Wellspan Chambersburg & Waynesboro Hospital and member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society
Tuesday, March 24, 2020 Coronavirus
(COVID-19) Legislative Updates
Presenter: John Callahan, PSBA Chief Advocacy Officer
Presenter: John Callahan, PSBA Chief Advocacy Officer
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 Topic 1:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Communication Practices: How to Address Your School
Community and the Media
Presenters: Annette Stevenson PSBA Chief Communications Officer & Liam Goldrick, Donovan Group
Presenters: Annette Stevenson PSBA Chief Communications Officer & Liam Goldrick, Donovan Group
Topic 2: The Business of School Boards:
Operations & Meetings During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Shutdown
Presenters: Stuart L. Knade, PSBA Senior Director of Legal Services & Heather Masshardt, Director of Policy Services
Presenters: Stuart L. Knade, PSBA Senior Director of Legal Services & Heather Masshardt, Director of Policy Services
Thursday, March 26, 2020 An Update from PIAA:
Addressing Coronavirus (COVID-19) Concerns
Presenter: Dr. Robert A. Lombardi, PIAA Executive Director
Presenter: Dr. Robert A. Lombardi, PIAA Executive Director
Monday, March 30, 2020 Facilities
Restoration: Coronavirus Clean-up
Presenter: SERVPRO, expert presenter
Presenter: SERVPRO, expert presenter
Tuesday, March 31, 2020 Risk Mitigation:
Strategy for Operational Continuity and Reducing Adverse Impacts
Presenter: CM Regent Insurance, expert presenter
Presenter: CM Regent Insurance, expert presenter
Registration here: https://www.psba.org/2019/10/coronavirus-webinar-series/
Blogger note: support Governor Wolf’s proposed charter reforms:
Reprise: PA Ed Policy Roundup for Feb 10, 2020
1. Adopt resolution for charter funding
reform
2. Ask your legislators to cosponsor HB2261
or SB1024
3. Register for Advocacy Day on May 11th
Adopt: the 2020 PSBA resolution for charter school funding
reform
PSBA Website POSTED ON FEBRUARY 3,
2020 IN PSBA
NEWS
In this legislative session, PSBA has been
leading the charge with the Senate, House of Representatives and the Governor’s
Administration to push for positive charter reform. We’re now asking you to
join the campaign: Adopt the resolution: We’re asking all school
boards to adopt the 2020 resolution for charter school funding reform at your
next board meeting and submit it to your legislators and to PSBA.
Cosponsor: A 120-page charter reform
proposal is being introduced as House Bill 2261 by Rep. Joseph
Ciresi (D-Montgomery), and Senate Bill 1024, introduced by Senators
Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) and James Brewster (D-Allegheny). Ask your
legislator to sign on as a cosponsor to House Bill 2261 or Senate Bill
1024.
Register: Five compelling reasons for .@PSBA .@PASA .@PAIU school leaders to come to the Capitol
for Advocacy Day on May 11th:
Charter Reform
Cyber Charter Reform
Basic Ed Funding
Special Ed Funding
PLANCON
For more
information: https://www.psba.org/event/advocacy-day-2020/
Rescheduled: Join us for Advocacy Day in Harrisburg to support public
education Monday May 11, 2020!
All school
leaders are invited to attend Advocacy Day at the state Capitol in
Harrisburg. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), Pennsylvania
Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU) and the Pennsylvania Association of
School Administrators (PASA) are partnering together to strengthen our advocacy
impact. The day will center around meetings with legislators to discuss
critical issues affecting public education. Click here for more information or register
at http://www.mypsba.org/
School
directors can register online now by logging in to myPSBA. If you need assistance
logging in and registering contact Alysha Newingham, Member Data System
Administrator at alysha.newingham@psba.org
PSBA Board Presidents Panel April 27, 28 and 29; Multiple
Locations
Offered at 10 locations across the state,
this annual event supports current and aspiring school board leaders through
roundtable conversations with colleagues as well as a facilitated panel of
experienced regional and statewide board presidents and superintendents. Board
Presidents Panel is designed to equip new and veteran board presidents and vice
presidents as well as superintendents and other school directors who may pursue
a leadership position in the future.
PARSS Annual Conference April 29 – May 1, 2020 in State
College
The 2020 PARSS Conference is April 29 through
May 1, 2020, at Wyndham Garden Hotel at Mountain View Country Club in State
College. Please register as a member or a vendor by accessing the links below.
Register today for the 2020 PASA/PA Principals
Association PA Educational Leadership Summit, August 2-4, at the Lancaster
Marriott at Penn Square
(hosted by the PA Principals Association and
the PA Association of School Administrators). Participants can earn up to 80
PIL hours (40 hours for the Summit and - for an additional cost of $50 -
40 hours for EdCamp) for
attending the conference and completing program requirements. Register
early to reserve your seat! The deadline to take advantage of the Early Bird
Discount is April 24, 2020.
Click here to
register today!
Network for Public Education 2020 Conference in Philly Rescheduled
to November 21-22
NPE Website March 10, 2020 7:10 pm
We so wanted to see you in March, but we need
to wait until November!
Our conference will now take place on November
21 and 22 at the same location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Please
read the important information below.
Registration: We will be rolling over our
registration information, so there is no reason to register again. You will
be automatically registered for the November dates. If you cannot attend in
November, we ask that you consider donating your registration to absorb some of
the costs associated with rescheduling the conference. If you feel you cannot
make such a donation, please contact: dcimarusti@networkforpubliceducation.org.
Any comments contained herein are my comments, alone, and
do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other person or organization
that I may be affiliated with.
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