At Thursday night’s North Penn School Board meeting, the board began their initial discussions for the district’s “return to school” plan, after starting the 2020-21 school year virtually for all students as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
North Penn School District Superintendent Dr. Curtis Dietrich was careful to clarify that the document to be discussed is just in the idea stages.
“This is not a ‘restart to in-person instruction’ plan,” Dietrich said. “This is the makings of what we need to decide, and I can give some insight and some update, and walk you through some of this. And as was mentioned early, I clearly anticipate the need for additional meetings.”
Dietrich outlined the North Penn area’s positivity and incidence rates for the last three weeks, according to metrics provided by the Montgomery County Office of Public Health.
The incidence rate was 24.8, 33.37 and 30.75 for the last three weeks, respectively. This is the composite ratio of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in a given area.
NPSD's positivity rate shows the percentage of positive tests relative to total tests. The past three week’s metrics for this category were 2.61%, 3.38% and 3.37% respectively. These numbers put NPSD in the low-to-moderate-risk category.
Dietrich said these statistics are relatively stable, and are similar to Montgomery County averages.
“These numbers are probably about as good as they’re going to get… especially as we approach colder weather, and more people moving indoors,” Dietrich said.
Board member Cathy Wesley said these metrics are encouraging, which is why the board is able to begin discussions on plans for reopening schools.
“Now that we’re seeing these incidence rates and positivity rates…” Wesley said. “The landscape is much different, and that data does provide us with the opportunity to make different decisions, sooner.”
The district is considering a few different options for November, when the board hopes to be able to bring students back to school for in-person instruction. At this point, they are leaning towards offering a hybrid option and a fully virtual option for parents to choose, and they made it very clear that parents will be given the opportunity to choose again, and not be held to the decisions they made over the summer.
Dietrich said the district is leaning towards a hybrid A/B model, which would have students split into A and B groups, each attending school in person two days a week, and virtually two days a week, on opposite schedules. The fifth day has not yet been defined, as the administration continues actively working on the best possible solution, officials told North Penn Now.
To facilitate this, the board approved a $500,000 expenditure to purchase an unspecified number of 50-inch televisions with cameras, Bluetooth microphones and TV stands, so that teachers can see and interact both with students physically in the classroom and in the classroom virtually via webcam.
NPSD coordinator of communications media Robert Gillmer said this is a totally “doable setup,” that would essentially allow all of the students tuning in from home to sit in one seat in the classroom.
Vice President Christian Fusco said that this technology package answers a lot of questions he would have about implementing the hybrid model.
“I, for one, am very impressed, and this moves the needle for me…” Fusco said. “This model has a lot of potential.”
Wesley, on the other hand, questioned the need to discuss specific technology before deciding when the kids will come back to school and how.
“At this point I feel that until this board answers and resolves within itself, are we returning before November… I think we need to get clear on the metrics that will make the decision,” Wesley said. “I still am in the position, respectfully, this is not where we need to focus right now.”
Gillmer cited supply chain and logistics as the reason for discussing the purchase of the technology, if the district wants to have it delivered and set up in time for students to potentially return to the classrooms in November.
“For sure, the sooner we order this… [the better],” Gillmer said. “Right now, they have it, it’s deliverable now. If someone comes in with a massive order, similar to us, prior to us, and that goes away, these things change.”
Gillmer noted that the district is still waiting on 50 televisions they ordered five weeks ago.
The board recognizes there is still a lot to be discussed and decided upon before a firm return-to-school plan can be established, primarily who will return to school, when they’ll start, and how they will attend school.
The next board meeting will be a work session at 6 p.m., Sept. 22, to continue this discussion, and plans to hold regular and frequent meetings until a plan is established that everyone agrees upon.
See also:
Parents Express Concerns, Frustrations With Distance Learning At North Penn School Board Meeting
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In A Split Vote, North Penn School Board Approves High School Fall Sports For Upcoming School Year
For The North Penn Marching Knights, The Band Will Play On
School Board Issues Statement Following Decision To Start School Year Virtual Only
