State College to continue in-person learning while reevaluating closure protocols
Despite 108 new COVID-19 cases reported in State College Area School District ZIP codes over the past week, administrators say they will continue in-person learning — for now.
Though no cases have been reported among staff or students, the district must consider a shift to remote learning due to guidelines included in its health and safety plan, which requires educators to consider shutting down in-person learning when 50-75 coronavirus cases are reported within district boundaries over a one-week period.
“Today’s numbers from the state Department of Health have brought us to where, according to our current health and safety plan, we should consider shifting to districtwide remote learning,” Superintendent Bob O’Donnell wrote in a letter to families. “However, we are not going to make that shift today. To be clear, we are going to continue with in-school learning while we further evaluate the parameters in our plan but it’s safe to say that we are taking it day-by-day right now.”
Believing that schools are still safe, O’Donnell said the district is “committed to providing in-person learning” as long as possible.
“Our main rationale for staying open is that we still have no known cases in our district — a testament to how well our students, faculty and staff are following our health and safety plan,” he wrote. “From the information we have, it’s our belief that most of the new cases in the past two days are Penn State students, and we know under the university’s protocols, these individuals are likely in isolation.”
Penn State began in-person classes on Aug. 24.
The SCASD board of directors will meet virtually at 7 p.m. Wednesday to reevaluate the closure protocols outlined in its reopening plan.
“Next week, we’ll call a special meeting and bring back an updated plan that we believe will better reflect the status of COVID-19 in our community,” O’Donnell wrote.
Last month, board members voted against a total virtual reopening, but the district delayed its first day of school by one day to finalize its reopening plans.
