Monday, November 23, 2020

PA Ed Policy Roundup for Nov. 23: Opinion: Public school districts’ cyber programs deserve more credit

Started in November 2010, daily postings from the Keystone State Education Coalition now reach more than 4050 Pennsylvania education policymakers – school directors, administrators, legislators, legislative and congressional staffers, Governor's staff, current/former PA Secretaries of Education, superintendents, school solicitors, principals, charter school leaders, PTO/PTA officers, parent advocates, teacher leaders, business leaders, faith-based organizations, labor organizations, education professors, members of the press and a broad array of P-16 regulatory agencies, professional associations and education advocacy organizations via emails, website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

 

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Keystone State Education Coalition

PA Ed Policy Roundup for Nov. 23, 2020

Opinion: Public school districts’ cyber programs deserve more credit

 

“Perhaps the most significant development with next year’s reapportionment is that Pennsylvania is expected to lose one of its 18 seats in Congress due to national population trends, further eroding the state’s influence in Washington. Pennsylvania had a peak of 36 seats after the 1910 census. The state’s share of Electoral College votes would fall from 20 to 19.”

Pennsylvania Republicans held on to the state legislature. But Democrats still feel good about redistricting. Here’s why.

Inquirer by Andrew Seidman, Posted: November 23, 2020- 5:01 AM

Pennsylvania Democrats had their best chance in years this election to take control of one or both houses of the state legislature. They came up well short of that goal, as Republicans expanded their majority in the House — even defeating the Democratic minority leader in that chamber — and regained control of the Senate. Despite the setback, Democrats will still play a significant role next year in drawing new congressional and state legislative maps in accordance with decennial redistricting. The party is in a much better position than it was in 2011, when Republicans held the legislature, the governor’s office, and a majority on the state Supreme Court. This time, the Democrats have Gov. Tom Wolf, who could veto a congressional map sent to him by the GOP-controlled legislature. Perhaps even more important, Democrats have a 5-2 majority on the Supreme Court. That will almost certainly give the party an advantage in drawing new state legislative maps for the 203 districts in the House and 50 in the Senate.

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-redistricting-republicans-democrats-20201123.html

 

Where you live should not dictate whether you receive the quality education you need.

FundOurSchoolsPA.org: Education Law Center/Public Interest Law Center
Every child in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has the right to an education that prepares them for college and career.
That’s why we’re taking the state to court.

Right now, 86% of Pennsylvania students attend schools that don’t receive adequate resources to give students a shot at reaching state academic standards, according to state law.   How much is your district underfunded per student? Check out the interactive map to see state data for your district. Help spread the word by sharing it with your neighbors.

Learn more about how we calculated this underfunding, and what we’re doing to change it.

https://www.fundourschoolspa.org/

 

“School districts deserve credit for implementing a remote learning model for much less than the $12,600 they spend on average to send a non-special education student to a cyber charter school. This achievement of running lean and efficiently is one measure of success, but equally, if not more important, is the quality of the education. On average, cyber charter school proficiency rates on state assessments are more than 24% lower than traditional public school rates and cyber charter school 4-year graduation rates are more than 33% lower than traditional public school graduation rates.”

Opinion: Public school districts’ cyber programs deserve more credit

WFMZ69 News By Roberta M. Marcus, consultant in residence, Pennsylvania School Boards Association; past president, Parkland School District (retired); accredited school director leader (retired) Nov 20, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the education landscape on its head and put the spotlight on alternative methods to educate students, including online learning programs. When school district buildings were unexpectedly forced to close in mid-March because of the pandemic, they were faced with the unprecedented responsibility of adapting all in-person instruction to a remote format for every student in a matter of weeks. At the start of the school year this fall, online learning turned out to be quite different in our schools. It is important the public understands the substantial efforts made by school districts to create robust and effective online learning programs that provide each student with a quality education. For parents and students who prefer online learning, more than 90% of Pennsylvania school districts offer an online learning program. These established online learning programs were available years before the pandemic. District programs are designed to provide a more seamless and effective learning experience for the student. In addition, unlike cyber charter schools, school districts are required to ensure 100% of the teachers in their online programs are state certified.

https://www.wfmz.com/features/think-tank/opinion-public-school-districts-cyber-programs-deserve-more-credit/article_a2af7e38-2b4d-11eb-86de-0b8362318da2.html

 

"I am at a loss for words if these representatives can't understand the urgency we are in," he said. "How can you not see that it costs us $4,000 and instead we are allowing private industries to collect up to $25,000?"

“Some (Central Susquehanna) Valley schools are paying more than $1 million a year — Midd-West, Mount Carmel, Selinsgrove, Shamokin and Shikellamy — to pay for students to attend external cyber schools. That isn't sitting well with Valley school superintendents worried about the future of their districts. During an online town hall hosted by The Daily Item on Wednesday, Valley school leaders stressed one thing: Things have to change or schools will begin to lose programs and teachers.”

School districts foresee crisis over pandemic cyber shift

Daily Item By Francis Scarcella fscarcella@dailyitem.com November 21, 2020

Public school officials across Pennsylvania were already concerned about cyber charter schools pulling funding away from already cash-strapped school districts before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Now, with more and more students leaving the public schools for established online programs they can attend at home, millions more taxpayer dollars are flowing out of budgets. Valley school leaders see a crisis in the not-too-distant future. When a student opts for an independent cyber school, the school district pays the tuition, equal to what the district spends to educate each student. There are different levels of payments as well — it costs more money to educate a student with disabilities than other students. The more students who leave the public schools — including those that offer their own cyber options — the more money is pulled from the district's coffers. According to the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO), $475 million dollars allocated to public schools are expected to fund education for students attending independent online options this year. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are leaving Valley public schools each year because of a broken funding formula, school officials say.

https://www.dailyitem.com/news/snyder_county/school-districts-foresee-crisis-over-pandemic-cyber-shift/article_47f2a8ae-13d9-5ba6-b4ea-d9fc27f8ddf0.html

 

“Milton Superintendent Cathy Keegan and Mount Carmel's Pete Cheddar said their districts try to track down where people are living in order to make sure their districts aren't paying for students that are no longer in their districts.”

Valley administrators must track cyber students who move out of district

Daily Item By Francis Scarcella fscarcella@dailyitem.com Nov 21, 2020

Valley school districts can find themselves footing the bill for cyber school for students who no longer reside within their district's geographic limits, superintendents said. There is no efficient way to track cyber students and families who move from one town to another after a school year begins, they said. "We have to really keep track of where people are living," Shikellamy Superintendent Jason Bendle said. "If a family moves to the Shikellamy School District and enrolls in outside cyber schooling, but moves and never tells us, the Shikellamy taxpayers continue to foot the bill." Bendle said even if a family moves to a neighboring district and doesn't report it, that district continues to pay.

https://www.dailyitem.com/news/snyder_county/valley-administrators-must-track-cyber-students-who-move-out-of-district/article_4b23b573-a0d6-5193-a85c-1597823048b0.html

 

Pa. budget doesn’t raise taxes or bail out industries hit by the coronavirus

Inquirer by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez, Updated: November 20, 2020

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania legislature has passed a spending plan that avoids tax increases and major cuts, and relies on about $1.3 billion in coronavirus relief aid to balance the books. The package approved Friday includes no major surprises — and no bailout for restaurants and other industries that have lobbied for what they say is a desperately needed influx of cash. Republican leaders justified using federal aid money for the budget, rather than for direct assistance, saying it would pay the salaries of state-employed public health and safety workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers in May approved a partial, stopgap budget amid uncertainty about how COVID-19 would impact state finances. The new plan funds the final seven months of the fiscal year, bringing the total operating budget through June 2021 to $36.5 billion — a roughly 4% spending increase compared to the previous year.

Gov. Tom Wolf intends to sign the plan.

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/spl/pennsylvania-budget-coronavirus-relief-aid-cases-35-billion-20201120.html

 

Pa. budget plan passes; relies on federal money, no new taxes

Business would get liability protection over coronavirus

Sharon Herald By John Finnerty CNHI State Reporter November 23, 2020

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania General Assembly has sent the governor an $11 billion plan to fund state operations through June, along with a measure to temporarily protect hospitals, businesses and schools from COVID-related lawsuits. Lawmakers tapped $1.3 billion in unused stimulus funds, another $2 billion in federal Medicaid funds and $500 million from reserve and special accounts to balance the budget without raising taxes. The budget measure passed the state House 104-97. Seventeen Republicans in the House voted against the plan while 13 Democrats in the House supported it. The Democrats who supported the budget measure were almost all those in leadership positions or retiring lawmakers. The measure was approved in the Senate by a 31-18 vote. The final House vote took place remotely as House officials dealt with an outbreak of coronavirus. State Rep. Jim Gregory, R-Blair County, announced Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19. It wasn’t immediately clear how many other lawmakers were isolating or quarantining due to exposure to coronavirus. House Speaker Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster County, said that the session was being held remotely to allow for contact tracing.

https://www.sharonherald.com/news/state/pa-budget-plan-passes-relies-on-federal-money-no-new-taxes/article_8596e141-930b-5fd9-b5a2-7f84d1235da9.html

 

Pa. lawmaker claims Capitol unsafe after fifth member tests positive for COVID-19

Patriot News by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA | Nov. 20, 2020

HARRISBURG — A state lawmaker has filed a formal complaint against the Pennsylvania House alleging unsafe working conditions, citing potential exposure risks after another member tested positive for the coronavirus. Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D., Philadelphia) said the move was prompted by another rise in COVID-19 cases and concerns about Republican lawmakers refusing to wear face masks or social distance on the floor or during committee meetings. “This drastic step reflects the high stakes that we face in protecting the health and safety of all staff and members who step foot in the building, as well as their families and communities at home,” Fiedler said in a statement.

https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2020/11/pennsylvania-lawmaker-coronavirus-positive-unsafe-working-conditions/

 

GOP lawmakers send governor bill to limit COVID-19 lawsuits

The Associated Press  NOVEMBER 20, 2020 | 6:16 PM

(Harrisburg) — A divided state House on Friday passed a Republican-backed proposal to make it harder to sue schools, health care providers and others over COVID-19 claims. The 104 to 98 vote sent the bill to the desk of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. All House Democrats were opposed, joined by five moderate Republicans. It would make it more difficult to establish liability when someone is exposed to the coronavirus during a governor-declared disaster emergency. Supporters said entities providing services to the public during the pandemic should not also face the prospect of expensive or even ruinous litigation, while opponents said the bill would remove a valuable protection for the public.

https://www.witf.org/2020/11/20/gop-lawmakers-send-governor-bill-to-limit-covid-19-lawsuits/

 

Former Philly charter school official charged with embezzlement

Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Updated: November 20, 2020

A former employee of a now-closed North Philadelphia charter school has been charged with embezzling more than $350,000. Darnell Smith, the former chief financial officer of Khepera Charter School, misused the funds while earning a six-figure salary, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Friday. On Smith’s watch, more than $200,000 was withheld from Khepera teachers’ paychecks for retirement funds, the attorney general said. But the money was never deposited into the Public School Employee Retirement System. An additional $370,000 in employer contributions was also never contributed to the system, Shapiro said. Smith, who is also known as Darnell Sulaiman, embezzled a further $350,000 on top of the pension payments, Shapiro said.

https://www.inquirer.com/news/khepera-charter-school-embezzlement-darnell-smith-20201120.html

 

“When the risk assessment tool was first unveiled in August, just a few weeks before the start of the school year, only one county was listed as having a substantial risk. Now, nearly 90% of counties fall into that category.”

Risk of community spread of coronavirus now substantial in most Pennsylvania counties

Daily Local By David Mekeel dmekeel@readingeagle.com @dmekeel on Twitter November 23, 2020

As Berks County spent its fifth consecutive week on the state's list of counties with a substantial risk of coronavirus community spread last week, it was joined by most of the rest of Pennsylvania. According to a report released Monday, 59 of the state's 67 counties faced a substantial risk of community spread of COVID-19 for the week ending Friday. The report is part of an online risk assessment tool created by the state Department of Education aimed at guiding school districts on how to provide instruction to students during the ongoing pandemic: in-person, virtually or a mix of the two. It uses county-level COVID-19 data on incidence rates and the percent positivity of diagnostic testing to group counties into one of three categories of risk of community spread: low, moderate or substantial. A county-by-county list of ratings is released each Monday. In recent weeks those lists have been populated more and more with counties deemed to have a substantial risk.

https://www.dailylocal.com/news/coronavirus/risk-of-community-spread-of-coronavirus-now-substantial-in-most-pennsylvania-counties/article_10d38305-a7be-5552-af96-8c1692154802.html

 

Coronavirus cases surge 34.8% in Pennsylvania

Beaver County Times by Mike Stucka USA TODAY Network November 23, 2020

New coronavirus cases leaped in Pennsylvania in the week ending Saturday, rising 34.8% as 42,766 cases were reported. The previous week had 31,729 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19. Pennsylvania ranked No. 28 among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week, the United States added 1,184,520 reported cases of coronavirus, an increase of 16.5% from the week before. Across the country, 44 states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before. Within Pennsylvania, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Mifflin, Cambria and Somerset counties. Adding the newest cases overall were Philadelphia County, with 6,358 cases; Allegheny County, with 3,622 cases; and Montgomery County, with 2,162. Weekly case counts rose in 65 counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week's pace were in Philadelphia, Allegheny and Lancaster counties.

https://www.timesonline.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/11/23/gda-coronavirus-state-2020-11-23-pa-nbct/115025682/

 

Montco judge rejects lawsuit over remote learning, county schools to go virtual Monday

WHYY By Miles Bryan November 20, 2020

Montgomery County students are heading for at least two weeks of all-virtual school after a judge denied a legal challenge to the county’s remote-learning order. The Montco Board of Health voted last week to suspend in-person instruction at all K-12 schools in the county starting Monday, Nov. 23. The order is intended to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. On Wednesday, three county residents sued over the remote-learning mandate, arguing the board violated Pennsylvania’s open meetings law by failing to provide sufficient notice of the vote, by limiting public comment, and by holding a private meeting the night prior to the public vote. But Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Richard P. Haaz wasn’t convinced, noting that lawmakers in Harrisburg passed an April amendment to that law — known as the “Sunshine Act” — loosening the notice and comment requirements during the pandemic. “Petitioners failed to satisfy their burden of proof that Respondents violated the Sunshine Act,” Haaz wrote in his six-page opinion.

https://whyy.org/articles/montco-judge-rejects-lawsuit-over-remote-learning-county-schools-to-go-virtual-monday/

 

Montgomery County judge denies parents’ effort to stop health board’s order to shut down schools; another lawsuit filed

Inquirer by Maddie Hanna, Updated: November 20, 2020

A Montgomery County judge on Friday rejected a request by parents seeking an order to stop a county board of health directive that all K-12 schools be shut down for in-person instruction for two weeks starting Monday. But the battle evidently is not over. Shortly after Judge Richard Haaz denied the parents’ petition, which alleged the county violated Pennsylvania’s open public meetings law, parents filed a second lawsuit in federal court — this one challenging the merits of the shutdown order and alleging their due process and equal protection rights were violated. Parents sent “a message to the county that we are not going to stand by and just accept them shutting down our schools ... without supporting evidence,” John Niehls, a parent and head of school at Coventry Christian Schools in Pottstown, said in a Facebook post responding to Haaz’s ruling. “Certainly, they got that message.”

https://www.inquirer.com/news/schools-closed-montgomery-county-lawsuit-coronavirus-pa-20201120.html

 

16 Lancaster County schools to shift online after Thanksgiving to prevent further COVID-19 spread

Lancaster Online by ALEX GELI | Staff Writer November 22, 2020

Sixteen Lancaster County schools are adopting virtual learning the week after Thanksgiving to help prevent further spread of COVID-19.  The moves, which impact more than 11,000 students from three school districts, come as COVID-19 cases continue to shatter records almost daily, leaving school officials with critical decisions regarding in-person learning as the number of quarantines among students and staff members surges across the county.  With families expected to travel and gather for the holiday, despite warnings from health officials not to do so, some school officials have decided against an immediate return to in-person instruction after the break.   Schools that will go remote the week students return from the Thanksgiving break include Ephrata High School, Hempfield School District schools and Manheim Central School District schools. 

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/16-lancaster-county-schools-to-shift-online-after-thanksgiving-to-prevent-further-covid-19-spread/article_3f78953a-2ce1-11eb-8a38-1bb5b328bc9c.html

 

More than 500 COVID-19 cases have been reported at Lancaster County schools. Here's where they are [update]

Lancaster Online  ALEX GELI | Staff Writer November 22, 2020

More than 500 cases of COVID-19 have been reported at Lancaster County schools so far into the 2020-21 school year. The cases come from 16 school districts, plus a brick-and-mortar charter school in Lancaster city and the county's career and technology center. And that might not be all.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/more-than-500-covid-19-cases-have-been-reported-at-lancaster-county-schools-heres-where/article_3df9f520-f90e-11ea-a2d4-cb2cf761df4e.html?utm_source=article&utm_medium=grid&utm_campaign=Today%27s%20Top%20Stories

 

Pocono schools divided on whether to keep kids on campus, despite 'substantial' transmission in community

Kathryne Rubright Maria Francis Pocono Record November 20, 2020

Half of Monroe County's four public school districts have made the decision to continue hybrid models of schooling, despite the county's classification of having “substantial” community transmission of COVID-19. Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg school districts have decided to educate students remotely due to the level of community transmission in the county. East Stroudsburg Area School District spans both Monroe and Pike counties. While Monroe is considered to have a substantial transmission rate, Pike County was reported to have “moderate” community transmission in the a recent update from Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine. Pocono Mountain and Pleasant Valley school districts have elected to keep up with their current hybrid approaches.  The Pennsylvania Department of Education recommends that districts in “substantial” counties should move to fully remote learning after waiting a week to see if the county maintains that level of spread, though it also notes that “a significant and/or widespread outbreak may require moving to a more remote-based model more quickly.” School districts are not required to follow the guidance, however. Here is a list of how each school district has responded to the latest news and recommendations from the DOH. 

https://www.poconorecord.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/11/20/pocono-schools-divided-whether-keep-kids-campus-despite-substantial-transmission-community/6358044002/

 

Easton Area School District shuts down hybrid program this week, hopes to start again Dec. 1.

By Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com Updated Nov 22, 2020; Posted Nov 22, 2020

Easton Area School District will shut down its hybrid program and go all remote this week, according to a message from the district superintendent. Superintendent David Piperato said COVID-19 cases have occurred in multiple grade levels and buildings. He posted his message Sunday, Nov. 22, on the district website. The school district’s COVID-19 dashboard lists four new positive cases for Nov. 22. Staff members at Paxinosa Elementary School, Easton Area Middle School and with district operations have tested positive. A middle school student also tested positive, according to the dashboard.

https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/2020/11/easton-area-school-district-shuts-down-hybrid-program-this-week-hopes-to-start-again-dec-1.html

 

In Palmerton, parents and students protest to keep schools open during pandemic

By LAURIE MASON SCHROEDER THE MORNING CALL | NOV 21, 2020 AT 6:38 PM

For Palmerton Area High School senior Kody Kratzer, his school district’s plan to halt in-person classes and sports due to the pandemic means he could miss out on a milestone he’s been working toward for years. Kratzer, a 17-year-old varsity basketball player, was on a roll to hit 1,000 points before COVID-19 threatened to cut the season short. “If we shut down winter sports, I’ll be stuck at 911 points,” Kratzer said. “I mean, I’ve dreamed of this since I was a little kid, to just score 1,000 points.” Kratzer was among more than 100 Palmerton residents who gathered in the borough’s municipal park Saturday to urge the district to reverse its plan to make school virtual beginning Dec. 1. “The kids need to be in school,” said Stephanie White, a mother of three who helped organize the rally and march through downtown. “School and sports allow some kids to escape from their home life, which isn’t so good. Kids rely on schools to feed them. There’s no reason our kids can’t be in school.” Palmerton Area School Board, by an 8-1 vote, approved the switch to virtual learning last week, as Pennsylvania broke daily records for coronavirus infections. Superintendent Jodi Frankelli made the recommendation to move students online after Carbon County had its second week with substantial COVID-19 spread. District officials said they were following the guidance of the Pennsylvania Health and Education departments, which recommend that schools pivot to remote learning when there has been a substantial level of transmission, the highest of three levels gauging community spread.

https://www.mcall.com/news/police/mc-nws-palmerton-parent-protest-reopen-schools-20201121-6cck4gxsdnfjjpxj65fch2lxpi-story.html

 

As COVID-19 cases soar, Lehigh Valley school districts face conflicting concerns but plow ahead with in-person learning

By KAYLA DWYER and MICHELLE MERLIN THE MORNING CALL | NOV 21, 2020 AT 5:39 PM

The color red — as outlined in almost every Lehigh Valley school district reopening plan over the summer — meant closing school buildings and pivoting to remote instruction. Though the state has since stepped back from the color-coded shutdown system, which in the spring triggered the order to close all schools, districts once again find themselves searching for a way forward amid surging coronavirus cases, conflicting concerns among parents and teachers and a new classification of “substantial” transmission. As was the case under the state’s red shutdown phase, the Health Department recommends school districts in counties with the substantial spread designation shift to remote learning ― and both Lehigh and Northampton counties entered that category this month. As the statewide caseload continues to break daily records, schools in several districts have opted instead for temporary closures, while officially keeping the doors open for in-person learning.

https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-lehigh-valley-school-districts-evolving-outlook-covid-20201120-kxcshwicgveb3jigodpejxp3ym-story.html

 

Montco parents worry two-week move to virtual learning will harm students’ mental health

WHYY By Ximena Conde November 22, 2020

Montgomery County parents opposed to a two-week shutdown of in-person learning, which starts Monday, worry that a repeat of the spring is coming: a two-week closure will become an extended stint of virtual learning. The Board of Health made the unanimous decision to order all schools go virtual mid-November citing a rise in coronavirus cases in the county. School districts across the county have adopted a mix of in-person and virtual learning since the start of the school year, with some schools resuming in-person classes up to five days a week. Parents like Jennifer Singer have been sending their children to school for the full five days. Singer and around 50 other parents showed up at a rally outside the home of Montco Commissioners’ Chair Val Arkoosh to protest the mandate. Singer lives in Montgomery Township and, like many parents at Arkoosh’s home, she’s had to balance running her business and doing virtual learning.

https://whyy.org/articles/montco-parents-worry-two-week-move-to-virtual-learning-will-harm-students-mental-health/

 

Bucks County school officials grapple with in-school instruction choices amid spiking COVID-19 cases

Chris English Bucks County Courier Times November 20, 2020

As COVID-19 cases skyrocket around the area, state and country, and schools in Montgomery County prepare to revert to all-virtual learning for two weeks starting Monday, school officials in neighboring Bucks County face tough choices about whether to continue or start in-person instruction. The Pennsbury School Board decided Thursday night to pause its hybrid model, a mix of online and in-person learning, and go back to all-virtual learning between Nov. 30 and Dec. 4. Centennial is moving back to all-virtual instruction starting Monday and running through Jan. 1 based on high COVID-19 incidence rates, percent of positive tests and other factors in the district and county. Meanwhile, Neshaminy is moving forward with plans to start a four-day-a-week classroom option at its elementary schools Nov. 30, and Council Rock plans to start a full-time, in-person choice at its elementary schools Dec. 14 and its secondary schools Jan. 4.

https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/story/news/2020/11/20/bucks-county-schools-face-tough-choices-covid-19-cases-mount/6355238002/

 

Pottstown School District prepares for in-person classes in January

Pottstown Mercury by Evan Brandt ebrandt@21st-centurymedia.com @PottstownNews on Twitter November 23, 2020

POTTSTOWN — As COVID-19 cases rise and the Montgomery County Department of Health has closed all schools for two weeks, the Pottstown School Board began plotting a path toward partial reopening. It is not a well-marked path given that the vote to potentially reopen some classes in January is contingent on a number of factors. Adding to the uncertainty is the fact that after piloting two different hybrid models at Lincoln and Rupert elementary schools, Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez said he could not "in good conscience" recommend either one to the board for adoption.

https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/pottstown-school-district-prepares-for-in-person-classes-in-january/article_869ea064-2b7c-11eb-9456-d399cd6bd082.html

 

Outbreaks, staffing shortages: How are Centre County schools faring with COVID-19?

Centre Daily Times BY MARLEY PARISH NOVEMBER 22, 2020 07:00 AM, 

It’s been three months since Centre County schools reopened and put their health and safety plans to the test. Since then, all local school districts have experienced some COVID-related closure, with concerns rising about upcoming holidays and breaks. Despite record-setting daily increases in cases, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said there are no plans to implement a second statewide shutdown like the one that closed schools this spring. But during a press conference Tuesday, she said the state will be watching schools and COVID-19 data “really closely.” “We have very specific guidance for K-12 schools in terms of whether they should be having classes in the classroom, whether they should have maybe a hybrid model or if they should be in virtual mode,” she said.

https://www.centredaily.com/news/rebuild/article247235774.html#storylink=mainstage_card2

 

The list: Pittsburgh-area school districts shift back to remote learning as COVID-19 cases surge

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE NOV 22, 2020 2:30 PM

An increasing number of schools and districts in southwestern Pennsylvania are transitioning to remote instruction as the Pittsburgh region continues to experience a spike in COVID-19 cases.

The districts said they plan to monitor conditions in Allegheny County and adjust their instruction schedules accordingly. Here are the districts that have announced changes (in alphabetical order):

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2020/11/22/Pittsburgh-western-pennsylvania-schools-close-remote-virtual-learning-COVID-19-cases-online/stories/202011220194?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1606073624

 

Greenville schools going online for 3 days

Sharon Herald by Herald staff Nov 23, 2020 Updated 6 hrs ago

GREENVILLE – All students in Greenville Area School District will be taught online instead of in classrooms for the next three days as a precaution to control the spread of the coronavirus. In a letter to parents dated Friday, Superintendent Brian S. Tokar said students in grades six to 12 will join kindergarten through fifth-graders in remote learning today through Wednesday. The plan is to return to normal instruction Dec. 1, after the Thanksgiving break. The move results from “ongoing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase of positive cases in our local area,” Tokar wrote. He said the district believes having students and staff out of the buildings will limit the probability of virus transmission.

https://www.sharonherald.com/news/local_news/greenville-schools-going-online-for-3-days/article_a7c7531e-3417-5e0b-8df6-c3682e66e995.html

 

Riverside extends virtual learning after faculty members test positive

Times Tribune Nov 22, 2020

The Riverside School District is extending fully virtual learning after two faculty members tested positive for COVID-19, Superintendent Paul Brennan announced Sunday .The district is working with the state Department of Health to identify anyone who was in close contract with the two faculty members at Riverside Elementary West.Riverside moved to virtual instruction Friday after a staff member at the high school reported a positive test Thursday. Earlier last week, about 15 students started quarantining after a staff member at Riverside Elementary West tested positive.

The district now plans to return to hybrid learning Dec. 7. 

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/riverside-extends-virtual-learning-after-faculty-members-test-positive/article_75abfa53-d4f8-5f93-9c0d-dddb38126138.html

 

Plum closes school buildings through Dec. 1 because of covid-19 outbreak

TRIBUNE-REVIEW | Sunday, November 22, 2020 8:49 p.m.

Plum School District is closing its buildings and moving to remote learning to contain a covid-19 outbreak, district officials announced Sunday. Four employees and three students notified the district they tested positive for covid-19, the district said in a news release. One high school employee and two students were among those diagnosed with covid-19 and four other high school students will need to quarantine, the district said. Two junior high employees tested positive and six other junior high employees will need to quarantine, the district said.

https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/plum-closes-school-buildings-through-dec-1-because-of-covid-19-outbreak/

 

2 Hempfield Area schools closed as covid-19 cases rise

Trib Live by MEGAN TOMASIC   | Monday, November 23, 2020 4:52 a.m.

Two schools in the Hempfield Area School District are closed as covid-19 cases continue to increase among staff and students. Hempfield Area High School and West Point Elementary School will be closed Monday and Tuesday, according to Superintendent Tammy Wolicki. The closure will last through Dec. 1 in conjunction with the Thanksgiving break. A covid-19 tracker posted on the district’s website shows that between Nov. 6-20, eight students tested positive at the high school and one staffer at West Point elementary. In letters to parents, Wolicki noted that at West Point, several staffers tested positive for covid-19 over the weekend, which resulted in others being identified as close contacts, requiring them to quarantine. Last week, Wolicki reported similar struggles among staffers at the high school. Those numbers have not yet been updated on the tracker.

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/2-hempfield-area-schools-closed-as-covid-19-cases-rise/

 

A look inside schools’ reopening decisions

Trib Live by TEGHAN SIMONTON   | Sunday, November 22, 2020 6:01 a.m.

Gary Peiffer was “cautiously optimistic” at the beginning of this school year. The superintendent of Greensburg Salem School District felt ready for the district’s planned hybrid model. Federal CARES Act funds had been used to purchase laptops, cleaning materials and plastic barriers. Teachers had gone through training for new remote learning and in-person safety protocols. And cases in the region were receding after a spike in mid-July. But two months later, the district is still fighting delays to obtain the rest of those laptops. Infections are surging in the region, and some buildings have had to temporarily close. Moving into the second quarter, with the winter months looming and cases already on the rise, Peiffer said there’s still a lot for him to worry about.

https://triblive.com/local/regional/a-look-inside-schools-reopening-decisions/

 

Erie students will work remotely through December, winter sports are postponed

GoErie by Valerie Myers Erie Times-News November 20, 2020

All of the Erie School District's 11,000 students will continue to work online through December. Winter sports and other in-person activities are postponed until further notice. Schools Superintendent Brian Polito announced the decisions Friday due to the continuing rise of COVID-19 cases in Erie County. The Erie County Department of Health reported 197 new cases of the virus on Friday.

https://www.goerie.com/story/news/education/2020/11/20/erie-students-work-remotely-through-2020-winter-sports-postponed-covid/6361423002/

 

Fairview School District to transition to remote learning beginning Monday

Erie Times-News November 19, 2020

The Fairview School District will transition to remote learning beginning Monday because of increasing COVID-19 cases in Erie County, Fairview School District Superintendent Erik Kincade said. The decision to move to remote learning affects about 1,800 students among Fairview High School, Fairview Middle School and Fairview Elementary School.

https://www.goerie.com/story/news/2020/11/19/fairview-school-district-transition-remote-learning-monday/6349977002/

 

McLane's 4-day pivot is meant to slow virus spread, Girard also plans some virtual days

GoErie by Valerie Myers Erie Times-News November 20, 2020

EDINBORO — Thanksgiving is a big reason why General McLane School District students will be learning at home Dec. 1-4. Some Girard students also will be learning remotely on those days. The 2,120-student General McLane School District notified parents Wednesday evening of the four days of 100% virtual learning meant to help contain what the Pennsylvania Department of Health now rates as a "significant" spread of COVID-19 in Erie County. That spread is only likely to get worse after families gather for Thanksgiving, General McLane schools Superintendent Rick Scaletta told parents in website and Facebook Live presentations this week.

https://www.goerie.com/story/news/education/2020/11/20/general-mclane-virtual-learning-slow-virus-spread-covid-education/6353742002/

 

Lewisburg Area School District moves to remote instruction through Dec. 4 due to COVID-19 cases

NorthCentralPA.com by NCPA Staff November 22, 2020

Lewisburg, Pa. – Lewisburg Area School District is switching to remote instruction from Monday, Nov. 23 through Friday, Dec. 4 due to several students testing positive for COVID-19. In a letter to parents dated Nov. 21, superintendent Jennifer Polinchock said a middle school student and a high school student tested positive last week. Two staff cases also were announced at Kelly Elementary School. “As of today, we have four active cases within three schools. These cases are unrelated, but it is clear that the community spread of COVID-19 is spreading into our schools,” Polinchock said. School officials will reassess the conditions by Dec. 4 to determine if in-person instruction can resume or if remote instruction will need to continue. Athletics and extracurricular activities also will be suspended.

https://www.northcentralpa.com/life/covid-19_updates/lewisburg-area-school-district-moves-to-remote-instruction-through-dec-4-due-to-covid-19/article_eed41e08-2ce3-11eb-9055-cfb427e2d062.html

 

Schools are not spreading covid-19. This new data makes the case.

New York Times Opinion by Emily Oster November 20

Emily Oster, a professor of economics at Brown University, is the author of “Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool.” She is a co-founder of the website Covid-Explained.

As covid-19 surges nationwide, the debate over school reopening has intensified. On one side are arguments that schools are not major sources of spread. On the other, we hear of schools with significant rates of infection. In response, many districts are delaying plans to bring back their students. On Wednesday, New York City announced that the nation’s largest district — one of the first to open for in-person instruction — would join the ranks of cities closing their public schools. But as the country grapples with how to educate kids while also curbing the coronavirus, the emphasis on transmission in schools may be misplaced. The best available data suggests that infection rates in schools simply mirror the prevalence of covid-19 in the surrounding community — and that addressing community spread is where our efforts should be focused.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/11/20/covid-19-schools-data-reopening-safety/?arc404=true

 

“The U.S. recorded more than 196,000 new coronavirus infections Friday, once again breaking the record for the most new infections on a single day. The death toll surpassed 250,000 on Thursday, marking another grim milestone. The pandemic shows little sign of slowing.”

As coronavirus cases rise, school leaders once again confront tough choices

Washington Post By Moriah Balingit November 21, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. EST

As coronavirus rates rise to unprecedented levels in the United States, school officials are once again struggling with whether to allow schoolchildren into classrooms or to keep them home, trying to balance the needs of their most vulnerable charges with the risks a surging pandemic could pose to students and staff — all with little guidance from the federal government. This week, New York City, once the epicenter of the pandemic and home to the nation’s largest school system, announced it would close its school buildings as positivity rates rose to 3 percent. Several districts in Iowa, where schools cannot shutter unless positivity rates reach 15 percent, have gone remote. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) this week ordered all schools to close, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), has closed all high schools. Dozens of districts, including those in Chicago, Sacramento and Minneapolis, remain closed and expressed dwindling hope of reopening anytime soon given the conditions. Seattle last week decided to keep schools closed until the end of January. Miami Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said earlier this week he was convening a task force to determine if the schools should shutter, as the number of new cases begins to rise. On Friday, Miami-Dade County reported more than 2,000 new cases.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/as-coronavirus-cases-rise-school-leaders-once-again-confront-tough-choices/2020/11/20/82df997c-2b65-11eb-9b14-ad872157ebc9_story.html

 

 

Adopt the 2020 PSBA resolution for charter school funding reform

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.

Resolution for charter funding reform (pdf)

Link to submit your adopted resolution to PSBA

 

332 PA school boards have adopted charter reform resolutions

Charter school funding reform continues to be a concern as over 300 school boards across the state have adopted a resolution calling for legislators to enact significant reforms to the Charter School Law to provide funding relief and ensure all schools are held to the same quality and ethics standards. Now more than ever, there is a growing momentum from school officials across the state to call for charter school funding reform. Legislators are hearing loud and clear that school districts need relief from the unfair funding system that results in school districts overpaying millions of dollars to charter schools.

The school boards from the following districts have adopted resolutions calling for charter funding reform. 

https://www.psba.org/2020/03/adopted-charter-reform-resolutions/

 

Know Your Facts on Funding and Charter Performance. Then Call for Charter Change!

PSBA Charter Change Website:

https://www.pacharterchange.org/

 

The Network for Public Education Action Conference has been rescheduled to April 24-25, 2021 at the Philadelphia Doubletree Hotel

 

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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