Ellwood City Area School District will access the community spread regarding Covid-19 on November 2nd to decide whether to keep schools open or transition to full-remote learning.
In a letter issued Wednesday by District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley, administrators announced a plan in moving education forward during the pandemic following meetings with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Department of Education and Lawrence County Commissioners.
“This past Monday our county moved into the substantial range of community spread,” Shipley said. “The Department of Health and Department of Education both recommend that we move to full-remote learning if our county is in the substantial range again on Monday.”
Shipley said he hopes that the district will be able to move forward with its Phase II Reopening plan, which will offer five-day physical attendance, three-day (MWF) physical attendance with two-day (ITH) remote learning, or ECAVA for those who desire to learn from home five days per week. The district’s board of directors voted to move forward with the plan on November 2nd. But Shipley recognized that the plan also calls for full-remote instruction if the county remains in the substantial phase for two consecutive weeks.
“At this time, we are not facing an outbreak in our schools,” Shipley said in his letter. “Instead, we are responding to our community spread numbers as recommended by the Departments of Health and Education.”
Shipley said if the community spread returns to the Moderate or Low ranges, the school will remain open and follow the current plan. If the community spread stays in the Substantial range, the district will move to full-remote learning effective Tuesday, November 3rd.
He reminded families in the letter that data will not be received until Monday afternoon and a decision and communication will immediately be sent to the community.
“Today’s announcement is so that you can be prepared for either message,” Shipley said.
If full-remote learning is implemented, it will last for at least two weeks. Each Monday when the data is analyzed, a communication will be sent regarding the plan for moving forward, which will either be a return to school date or a notification that remote learning will be extended.
Full-remote learning will mean the following for teachers and students:
- During full-remote learning, our teachers and students will remain on their daily schedule and teachers will connect remotely with their students during their scheduled class period/time.
- Students are expected to participate in lessons and classroom meetings each day.
- Teachers can be contacted and will respond to questions during typical school hours.
- Wi-Fi is available in each District Building parking lot and we will again utilize mobile hot-spots (locations will be announced later).
- Special education services will continue to be provided, all scheduled meetings will remain on the calendar and all supplemental services (speech, occupational therapy, etc.) will continue.
- We will continue with the one-hour delay so that teachers can design and post assignments.
- Daily breakfast and lunch will be delivered to our students at no charge.
- Sports teams that have made the playoffs will continue to compete under WPIAL and PIAA rules.
- If winter sports are affected, an immediate notice will be sent to our families.
“The health and safety of our staff and students is most important to us and we will continue to update everyone regarding our instruction status as we move forward,” Shipley said. “Please note that our closure is due to community spread and not an outbreak in our schools. I ask that you take personal precautions so that we can minimize the spread of COVID- 19 which will allow us to remain in school.”
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