Dear Families,

We are looking forward to our students returning to school, and I hope you have been able to find time to rest and relax this summer.  I wanted to provide you with a variety of updates based on our COVID-19 mitigation efforts.  I am hopeful this information will help you plan and prepare accordingly for the 2021-22 school year.  As always, please feel free to reach out to your child(ren)’s school or to my office if you have any questions.

As previously communicated, we are planning for 5-days a week of instruction for all grade levels (PreK-12).  Collectively, IASD values in-person instruction and developed a plan that is flexible to meet the evolving challenges we are facing regarding the pandemic.  Our policies will remain flexible so that, should the COVID situation warrant a change, we will follow the requirements issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and/or the Pennsylvania Department of Education as they are issued.  We will also continue to monitor the local situation and carefully consider implementing any recommendations issued by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) should they become necessary.

The Indiana Area School District will, if needed, work with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Department of Education, and local public health officials, consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including those related to privacy, to determine the prevention strategies needed in our area by monitoring levels of COVID transmission in our schools.  This may result in the need and requirement for masking until the levels of community transmission are lower or vaccination coverage increases.  We will use the number of confirmed cases in our schools as the main metric in determining whether or not masking or other mitigation efforts are required.  Additionally, we will plan to continue timely and appropriate communications with our families by notifying you of confirmed cases, and create a public COVID dashboard to help maintain awareness of changes in the situation and for the need for masking based on positive cases and transmission if and when that situation would occur.  To be clear, the new IASD COVID dashboard contains info/data specific to only our buildings and not the entire community.

In regard to possible closures due to outbreaks and building spread of the virus, the Indiana Area School District will work with the Department of Health in making these determinations. Please note that schools are required to report cases to the Department of Health for contact tracing and quarantine/isolation orders.  This is in alignment with 28 Pa. Code ch. 27 and is not optional for schools.  

Notice Regarding Return to School and In-Person Learning

As the beginning of the academic year approaches, the Indiana Area School District wishes to address the challenges associated with returning to in-person instruction for our District staff, students, and parents.  The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is extremely contagious and continues to remain a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is believed to spread mainly from person-to-person contact and has had severe consequences for those that are especially vulnerable, such as senior citizens and individuals with underlying medical conditions. As a result, federal, state, and local governments and federal and state health agencies have made numerous recommendations over the past months to fight the spread of infection, including increased handwashing and social distancing measures to limit contact with others.

Indiana Area School District has put in place many preventative measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and other agencies, as outlined in the District’s Health and Safety Plan, to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to allow students and parents to feel comfortable about returning to in-person instruction within the school setting. Even with preventative measures in place, there are inherent risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We need families, parents, and students to acknowledge and understand the contagious nature of COVID-19 and the risk of infection associated with the use of District transportation, in-person instruction, and participation in District programs and activities. We cannot guarantee that you or your children will not become infected with COVID-19 as a result of the aggressive nature through which this virus spreads.  An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any place where people are present.

We understand your concerns, and the Indiana Area School District has taken enhanced health and safety measures to create the safest environment possible during this pandemic. We require that all students and their families follow all posted instructions as provided by the Indiana Area School District’s Health and Safety Plan for the health and well-being of all. Again, masks are strongly recommended for all staff and students.

Health and Safety Plans, Masking, and Busing 

As we prepare to open our doors 5 days a week, it is crucial that we provide a clean and safe environment for everyone, using prevention strategies to help mitigate the transmission of COVID-19.  Section 2001(i)(1) of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act requires each local education agency (LEA) that receives funding under the ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund to develop and make publicly available on our website a Health and Safety Plan. Each school district has the ability to create a plan they feel meets their local needs. The plan was originally approved by the Board of Directors on July 12 and then updated and approved at the July 26 meeting.  You can review our plan by visiting our website or clicking here.

On or about July 6, 2021, all 500 school districts received an email from the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education that had a variety of updates regarding our required health and safety plans including “Lastly, it’s important to note that under a Federal order issued in January 2021, the CDC requires face coverings, regardless of vaccination status, when on public transportation – this includes on school buses operated by public and private school systems. However, a driver does not need to wear a face-covering if they are the only person on the bus.”  This is not the decision of the District, and we must comply with the mandate we were issued.  Respectfully, your cooperation in this matter is required if you plan to use District transportation.  If you do not want your child to wear a mask on the bus, please provide the District with a medical excuse, on letterhead, from your child(ren)’s physician or you can elect to transport your child(ren) to school.

Although the plan makes mask-wearing strongly recommended/optional at the time, our policies must remain flexible so that, should the COVID-19 situation warrant a change, we can respond accordingly to keep our staff and students safe as well as keep our schools open. The situation in which we are working may change drastically each day. The Indiana Area School District strongly recommends that all individuals wear masks.  This is especially important for unvaccinated staff and students, immunocompromised students and staff, as well as students under the age of 12.  Respectfully,  we are requesting that families voluntarily provide Covid vaccine receipt cards to their child(ren)’s school health office.  Please contact your child’s nurse to make the necessary arrangements.

IASD will follow the requirements/mandates issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and/or the Pennsylvania Department of Education as they are issued. We will also continue to monitor the local situation and carefully consider implementing any recommendations issued by the Center for Disease Control and our local advisory board (comprised of local medical officials and school administration) should they become necessary.  As part of our mitigation efforts, the Indiana Area School District has created a framework that we will use to guide us in our decision-making on when to require masks in our schools due to an outbreak.  This (concept of masking) was previously communicated to all parents on or about July 27, 2021 and is specifically enumerated in our Board-approved Health and Safety Plan.

In our plan, we specifically stated that IASD “will work with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Department of Education, and local public health officials, consistent with applicable laws and regulations to determine the prevention strategies needed in our area by monitoring levels of transmission in our schools.  This may result in the need and requirement for masking until the levels of transmission are lower or vaccination coverage increases.  We will use the number of confirmed cases in our schools as one of the main metrics in determining whether or not masking is required.  This is designed to keep students safe, mitigate the spread of the virus, and keep our schools open.  None of us want to wear a mask; conversely, none of us want to close our schools as we value in-person learning.”  

What are the metrics being used when determining mandatory mask-wearing?

IASD has worked with our local advisory board to build a metric system that will guide us in our decision-making regarding masks and school closures.  This framework will serve as a guide and context will matter when making a decision regarding masks and closures.  IASD will be sure to communicate with families in a timely manner when masking and/or closing is required so that our families understand the context and rationale behind our decision-making.

IASD has developed a model that uses similar vocabulary to that of the CDC’s community transmission table by using the following categories:  Low, Moderate, Substantial, and High.  We are hopeful this allows our community to quickly connect our plans to a familiar framework.  One of the main factors the District will consider when requiring masks will be the number of confirmed cases, per building, in a 14-day rolling period. This 14-day rolling average is actual days – including weekends and days in which school is not in session.  This is similar to last year’s plans and in accordance with the recent Department of Health’s recommendations.  We would require masks for staff and students once we reach the substantial and/or high categories.  This is being done to help mitigate the spread of the virus, keep staff and students safe, and help keep our schools open.

What if I do not want my child to wear a mask? 

At this point, masks are optional/strongly recommended; however, similar to last year, parents can provide their building principal with medical documentation on letterhead from their child’s physician to opt-out of the mask mandate should one be required based on school-level confirmed cases.  This exception applies to the bus as well.  Also, parents who are reluctant to wear a mask during any time frame when they are required can also elect to have their child(ren) attend class remotely during that identified time period.  Please contact your child(ren)’s principal if you choose to have your child attend remotely during this time.  They will be able to explain to you the process and framework.

How long will my child have to wear a mask?

Once a building meets the identified threshold for confirmed cases, students, teachers, staff, administration, and anyone in that particular building will be required to wear masks for a minimum of five school days or until the cases fall below the threshold.  If we enter a phase where masking is needed, all staff and students will be required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. The only exception will be the medical documentation explained previously.

It is critical to mention that different types of educational settings can affect decisions about masking/closures factors.  The context of the situation/case(s) will matter in our decision-making process, and we will do our best to explain our rationale, as we did all last year, when making decisions.

Would the mask mandate apply to sports and extracurricular activities?  

Yes, student-athletes, coaches, volunteers, and related personnel will be required to wear masks on all school transportation. If a mask mandate becomes necessary in schools, it would apply to all people in all IASD indoor spaces – including any extracurricular participants. Furthermore, all athletic and extracurricular teams are expected to practice universal precautions to help mitigate the spread of the virus. On a related note, the high school administration is working to make sure our student-athletes can use the larger (newer) gym when competing in events.

Water Fountains

Just like last year, we are asking that all students bring a refillable water bottle or tumbler with a removable lid to fill at the District’s water-fill stations. This will prevent students from touching the water fountains with their hands or lips, and decrease potential exposures.

COVID Testing

We have not reached a final decision regarding testing on our campuses.  We are working with our local advisory board to determine if other options exist.  We will be sure to communicate once we have more information and details to present.

Quarantines & Classroom Pods 

As stated earlier, schools were advised by the Department of Health that we are required by law to report all confirmed cases to their office.  IASD will work with the Department regarding possible closures due to outbreaks and building spread of the virus. Again, please note that schools are required to report cases to the Department of Health (DOH) for contact tracing and quarantine/isolation orders.  This is in alignment with 28 Pa. Code ch. 27 and is not an option for schools.  

The CDC guidance adds the following exception to the definition of close contact (meaning your child might not be quarantined by the DOH):  In the K–12 indoor classroom setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student (laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness) where:

• both students were engaged in the consistent and correct use of well-fitting face masks; and

• other K–12 school prevention strategies (such as universal and correct mask use, physical distancing, increased ventilation) were in place in the K–12 school setting.
• This exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor classroom setting.

To help reduce the number of students being quarantined, IASD will group the students in the classroom in pods based on those who elect to wear masks and those who do not.  While masking is optional at the current time based on our plan, we want to implement strategies that will, hopefully, limit the number of quarantines for the 21-22 school year.

Also, it is important that we make families aware of a recent change the Department of Health enacted regarding quarantines.   According to a recent communication by the Department of Health, fully vaccinated people who have had a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are to be tested 2-5 days after exposure and should wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test.  The guidance goes on to state that “regardless of vaccination status, any person with new or unexplained symptoms of COVID 19 still needs to isolate and be evaluated for SARS-CoV-2 testing.” If you have questions about this guidance, please call the Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258).

When elementary students (K-5) are quarantined, IASD will provide synchronous remote instruction (a live teacher) for students in Math and Literacy and an asynchronous approach (similar to most cyber models) for the remaining subjects. If an entire elementary class is quarantined, that teacher will provide the instruction described above to the entire class.

At the secondary level, we will take more of an asynchronous approach to providing instruction for quarantined students.  The District will make sure students have access to the lesson plan and all corresponding activities via their teachers’ Google classrooms.  Some teachers may choose to provide a recorded overview of the day’s objectives to provide clarity to the student.  Secondary students (Grades 6-12) can email their teachers to set up a remote learning session from 2:40 – 3:10 p.m. Monday-Friday to get help on their assignments and to address any concerns or questions they may have. IHS has built an additional layer of support, considering a vast majority of quarantines from last year derived from that particular building. Live support from a certified teacher (not necessarily a student’s assigned teacher) will be available for additional support on Fridays.  Please contact your child(ren)’s principal if you need assistance or have any questions.

In closing, we are looking forward to returning to school in the fall.  The administration and staff have been hard at work throughout the summer preparing for a new school year. I understand that this entire situation is frustrating for our families. Please know that we will do all that we can to keep our staff and students safe and our schools open five days a week.  We are respectfully asking for your help in complying with these measures, as we believe in-person learning is best for the large majority of our student population. Be sure to check your email, as we anticipate needing to communicate with you occasionally.

All the best,

Mr. Michael J. Vuckovich

Superintendent of Schools