January 12, 2021
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Return to Face-to-Face Instruction
1/19/2021
Due to recent updates from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), the following guidance has been distributed to the school districts within the Commonwealth, “In August, the Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Health provided school leaders with recommendations on which instructional models they should implement based on changing levels of community transmission of COVID-19 in their counties. Today, those recommendations have been updated to encourage schools to consider returning some students to in-person instruction as local conditions permit. Beginning with the start of the second semester, the Departments recommend public schools in counties with substantial transmission consider returning elementary school students to in-person instruction while secondary school students remain fully remote, provided they follow all applicable orders and safety protocols. Also, due to some student populations being disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 response efforts, schools should consider resuming in-person instruction for targeted student populations (i.e., students with disabilities, English Learners, etc.), regardless of the general instructional model they are utilizing. As always, these recommendations are dependent on local factors including size of the school entity, classroom size, school resources, proportion of staff and students with special needs and underlying health conditions, and the ability to accommodate remote learning with equal access for all students.”
To this end, the Laurel Highlands School District will resume the Face-to-Face instructional model utilized prior to the remote transition for all students on January 19, 2021(Face-to-Face instruction Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, remote learning on Wednesday with building deep cleaning). We will adamantly follow all DOH/PDE guidance in regard to masking, social distancing, and building disinfecting. In addition, to date we have installed air purifiers, ultra-violet light bacteria/virus destroying mechanisms in all buildings to ensure an added level(s) of building safety for students and staff. Please continue to check our website (www.lhsd.org) for updates. We are keenly aware of the hardship remote learning places on both students and families; we are committed to doing everything we can to provide a safe and secure learning environment for students and staff.
Since the landscape is changing rapidly, students should check their emails regularly for the most updated information and parents should check in with their children daily, our website, and the parent portal.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jesse T. Wallace, III
Superintendent
jesse.wallace@lhsd.org