Wolf expects students back in class for fall

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

Gov. Tom Wolf said Friday there’s “no question” that Pennsylvania school districts will physically reopen in the fall.

A few Mon Valley superintendents reacted Friday to give an idea of what they think needs to happen if schools open.

“Schooling will look different,” Wolf said. “You’ll probably have more online learning and maybe less classroom learning, there might be fewer students in each classroom.”

Wolf closed schools for short periods of time throughout March before announcing April 9 that all schools statewide would be shut down through the end of the 2019-20 school year. Many students have spent recent weeks learning remotely via online learning or paper- and-pencil packets.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is expected to release specific guidance early next week that will address issues such as online learning, classroom capacity, operating school buses, sports and extracurricular activities, as well as other logistics, Wolf said.

“Each of the local education authorities have a lot to say about what school is going to look like,” Wolf said. “We’re providing guidelines.”

Specific start dates in August or September will be determined by local school officials, according to the governor.

Belle Vernon Area Superintendent Dr. Michele Dowell said she is open to the idea of schools reopening in the fall, but thinks that can only successfully and safely happen if the governor’s office and the departments of health and education issue clear-cut guidance.

“I think there are a ton of unknowns right now,” Dowell said. “Absolutely I would like to bring some normalcy back to the kids. … I just think they have to give guidance so it’s not just a local education decision.”

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