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Students to attend school two days a week to start year in Upper St. Clair

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 4 min read
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Upper St. Clair School Board unanimously approved a Phased Reopening Health and Safety Plan Monday calling for students to return to classes two days a week and learn remotely during the remainder.

The 54-page plan, which was submitted as required to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, outlines procedures for starting the school year in a manner that safeguards against the spread of COVID-19. Staff members report Aug. 24, the same day parents receive their children’s schedules regarding instruction and transportation.

For all students, remote orientation about the school district’s new learning environment is scheduled for Sept. 3 and 4. Classes begin Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day.

The district offered students two educational options, the two-day-a-week “hybrid” model or fully remote. About 77% chose the former, according to Superintendent John Rozzo, and students have the option of changing from one to another as the school year progresses.

The overall objective is to open schools fully when circumstances allow.

“Right now, we are unable to do that. But as soon as we can, we will,” Rozzo said during Monday’s board meeting, a video of which was posted on the district’s website the following day. “And we’re going to put every ounce of energy into doing everything we can to position ourselves so that when that time comes, we can quickly pivot to that option.”

Although he acknowledged that remote learning is not on par with doing so in person, Rozzo touted the system that will be in place: Google’s G Suite Enterprise for Education, which features premium tools for security, data control, teaching and communication.

“The robust design of this is definitely impressive, and it will not be like what the students experienced in the emergency model in the spring,” he said. “I think our staff did a good job in the spring, but this has had much more time, much more involvement.”

The district has made an investment in technology that includes iPads for students in kindergarten through fourth grade, Chromebooks for fifth- through 12th-graders, and equipment for videoconferencing.

“We are going to do everything we can to make certain that while the kids are at home, that it is going to be as close to the valuable experience of being in person as possible, and we’re going to do that until we can return them,” Rozzo said. “And we’re committed to giving families the option. We fully recognize and understand that some people may not be comfortable or are unable to return fully in person, and they have the right to that decision, as well.”

He said the fully remote option would be available throughout the year, no matter how the process of returning students to school five days a week progresses.

Those who return two days a week are required to wear masks, as is everyone within school buildings. Also with regard to facial protection, the district received new guidance from the state Department of Education Aug. 17, just a few hours before the board meeting.

“That guidance is that students are no longer permitted to remove their masks when seated at their desk. The guidance previously was that students – as long as they were six feet apart, seated and working at their desk – they were able to remove their masks,” Rozzo said.

“However, they are permitted to have mask breaks. The mask breaks cannot be longer than 10 minutes at a time,” he said. “We will certainly ensure that our students receive ample and sufficient mask breaks throughout the day.”

He pointed out the precautions being taken will result in a school environment that contrasts sharply with what students experienced as of March 13, the final day of regular classes before the statewide COVID-19 shutdown.

“This is a significant adjustment for our kids. Our kids are coming back into school this fall wearing masks, having shields on their desks, limited opportunities for social interaction,” Rozzo said. “So while it’s fantastic that we’re able to bring them back, and we’re certainly happy about that, we cannot lose sight of it: This may be traumatizing for kids as they enter school, because the learning environment is going to look vastly different.”

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