Plum School District officials approve reopening plan, options for parents - TribLIVE

Plum School District’s reopening plan gives parents a choice to maintain their children’s distance learning or send them back into school next month.

The plan, which is available for review at the district’s website, was approved by an 8-1 vote at a special meeting Thursday night.

School Director Michelle Stepnick dissented. She said the plan does not do enough to encourage social distancing.

“To me, it’s reckless,” she said. “If our cases were low and the virus was under control in our region, I would have been more inclined to have voted, ‘yes.’ We have basically been placed back into the yellow phase without the title, and I find a full opening irresponsible.”

Stepnick said she’s concerned about teachers who have to focus on health and safety, classroom management and teaching content at the same time, as well as students and staffers who may be exposed to the virus and pass it on to family members.

Superintendent Brendan Hyland said the reopening plan was the result of countless hours spent by a team of administrators, teachers, students, board members and parents working together with safety as their primary goal.

Board President Mike Devine commended the administration and all who participated in the plan’s development.

“The options set forth have taken everyone into consideration and allows them to still receive the same quality education we have come to expect from our teachers in Plum, regardless of which option each parent chooses,” Devine said. “I am confident we were able to create this plan from every point of view.”

Plans for 3 scenarios

The plan is very thorough with directives for all three phases of the state’s color-coded reopening plan.

The option that was approved for the start of the school year was the green phase, which Allegheny County is still in despite a recent spike in covid-19 cases and certain tighter restrictions.

The green phase allows for all students to return to the buildings.

The first day of school is set for Aug. 19.

There will be constant cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting and ventilation of all buildings as well as monitoring student and staff health.

Social distancing: Just 3 feet required

The plan calls for at least three feet of physical distancing, floor markings to signify distance and direction along with signage to increase education of proper hygiene.

District officials said the World Health Organization (WHO) calls for people to be at least three feet apart while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends six feet for social distancing.

Face coverings are also required in schools, on buses and when in communal areas.

Hyland said there were talks about making masks optional for kindergarten through fourth-graders, but that changed after Gov. Tom Wolf’s orders to have everyone wear masks when returning to class.

“We will do the best of our ability to follow his recommendations as well because he is using, you would hope, scientists and experts on the spread of covid-19,” Hyland said.

He also noted the ever-changing protocols during the pandemic, and how everyone needs to prepare to make adjustments as things move forward.

“It is like trying to hit a target that’s moving while blindfolded in the wind, and that is really what we’re trying to do,” Hyland said. “If anybody thinks any differently, they’re more than welcome to have my job and they can figure it out.

Prepare for change in plans

“These plans are going to probably change. We ask respectfully from the community to be patient with us and know that we’re working for you and working for your kids to the best of our ability.”

The plan for the yellow phase would allow for 50% capacity in the schools, which means students would be placed into two groups and attend classes on an alternate schedule with others using distance learning.

Hyland said cameras will be placed in all classrooms so students can watch lessons through Google Classroom.

He said the district’s attendance policy will not be as strictly enforced this coming year so if students don’t want to physically come to school, they can participate online.

The online education plan was dubbed Plum LEARNS – Leading Education Authentically and Remotely in our Neighborhoods Safely.

A digital learning academy is in the works for families who want to make a longer commitment to online learning. The district also bought Chromebooks for students in kindergarten through third grade to ensure every student has distance education capabilities.

Look for a survey

A letter will be sent out to district families, as well as a survey to see if their children will be coming back to school or staying at home, and if parents would be able to pickup and drop off their students.

“We’re going to need to know where you stand as a family so that we can utilize our resources in the most efficient and effective way possible,” Hyland said. “We have worked extremely hard to come up with as many options as we possibly can for our families to get the best education and also make them feel as comfortably as possible.”

The plan for the red phase, in which all buildings would be closed, calls for online learning exclusively.

Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at 412-871-2367, mdivittorio@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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Plum School District officials approve reopening plan, options for parents - TribLIVE

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