Pa. schools to remain closed through April 6

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has extended school closures through at least April 6 in response to the ongoing coronavirus spread statewide.

The PDE also said Monday afternoon that the closure could be extended beyond April 6 if “necessary to save lives and stop the spread” of the virus.

When it’s determined that students can return to school, the PDE said, administrators, teachers and other staff will be given two days to prepare classrooms, set up cafeterias, schedule transportation and arrange other business operations. Students would return on the third day.

“We were notified late this afternoon that the commonwealth has extended its closures,” Ringgold Superintendent Megan Marie Van Fossan said. “The district is currently working on a plan to submit to the board for its review.”

The board and Van Fossan haven’t seen eye-to-eye on moving forward with additional Flexible Instruction Days. 

Van Fossan said the district’s plan has been approved by PDE, but the board is concerned the district can’t provide “full access to learning for all students, with particular attention to Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for students with disabilities and English as a second language …” and has stopped educational services through March 27. 

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