PA Administrators Seek More Specifics for Re-opening from State Officials (July 30, 2020)

On July 27, 2020, PA Association of School Administrators (PASA) officials requested more specific guidance for school re-opening during a call that included Ā PA Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine PA Education Secretary Pedro Rivera. They are seeking more concrete recommendations on how to re-open, including what format to utilize and how to handle a teacher or student testing positive for COVID-19. PASA Executive Director Mark DiRocco expressed concern that school administrators and board members are being asked to make public health decisions for which they have no training or expertise.

Although PA Health Department officials reassured the school administrators that they will help guide school districtsā€™ responses as virus cases arise, administrators are still requesting clarity in distancing measures, transportation, and other concerns with in-person instruction. For example, state guidelines call for 6 feet (1.8 meters) of social distancing ā€œto the maximum extent possible,ā€ a goal that may prove difficult.

School districts must have a board-approved plan posted online before they ca Democratic Governor Tom Wolf closed schools for the 2019-20 school year in March.

For more information from the Associated Press, click here.

For information from the AP on including how school districts such as Philadelphia, Coatesville, State College, Franklin Regional, Wilson Boro, West Chester, Central Cambria, and Octorora are planning to re-open, click here.