State College Area School District cancels classes next week in response to coronavirus
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Following Penn State’s decision to suspend in-person classes through April 3, at least one Centre County area school district is following suit to prevent the introduction and spread of the novel coronavirus.
After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued interim guidance last week for public and private child care programs and K-12 schools based on what is known about the transmission and severity of the novel coronavirus,Centre County schools took precautions to prevent a community-level outbreak.
Now, some schools will remain closed after spring break as officials work to develop new plans of action to prevent the virus from spreading.
State College Area School District cancels classes
The State College Area School District announced on Tuesday that classes will not be in session from Monday until March 20, but all buildings and district offices will be open.
“At this time, we believe that is the right step to take for the health and safety of our SCASD families, employees and the community at large — especially to protect our students and employees who are immunosuppressed or at greater risk due to age and other reasons,” SCASD Superintendent Bob O’Donnell said in release.
The district plans to develop the following measures should it resume classes on March 23:
- Identify immunosuppressed and other at-risk students and employees
- Finalize daily systematic approach to disinfect all schools and buses
- Develop flexible and remote learning options for all K-12 students
- Prepare for potential distribution of Chromebooks to K-5 students
- Coordinate food service options for children in need
All athletics and extracurricular activities will proceed as planned. The five-day period will include two instructional training days for staff and faculty members. Three days will be rescheduled for students to make up.
According to the release, SCASD will make a decision about the week of March 23-27 on March 19.
“Regardless, our goal is to resume instruction on March 23, whether that’s in our classrooms of via remote learning,” O’Donnell said. “Because of the magnitude of this decision, I ask that you please reach out to your building principal with individual requests and needs. They will serve as the first contacts for funneling communications throughout the district.”
Young Scholars will be closed for students Friday-March 20 as a precaution against the virus, according to an announcement on the school’s website.
Other school districts to remain open, monitor COVID-19 updates
The Bellefonte Area School District will remain open as scheduled but plans to continue to monitor the situation, according to a letter to families from Superintendent Michelle Saylor.
“While several colleges, universities or private schools in our area may develop alternative plans for learning, we will remain open at this time,” Saylor wrote. “It is possible that we may need to close schools temporarily if it appears the coronavirus has affected our community in a significant way.”
BASD reminded district staff, students and families to wash their hands, avoid coughing or sneezing onto hands or into the air, avoid touching their eyes, mouth and nose and to refrain from attending school if sick.
In a letter to district families, Bald Eagle Area School District Interim Superintendent Joseph Clapper said BEA schools also plan to remain open, with nursing staff continuing to observe and monitor students.
“Nurses have been instructed to remain diligent in terms of sending students home who show signs of illness in addition to communicating with families,” he wrote.
Philipsburg-Osceola and Penns Valley area school districts have not announced closures.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 3:40 PM with the headline "State College Area School District cancels classes next week in response to coronavirus."
