Bensalem Schools Will Be Virtual Through November

BENSALEM, PA — Bensalem Township's school board on Wednesday approved a plan to delay the start of in-person school until at least November.

The Bensalem Township School District's board approved the plan on a vote of 8-1. The plan will start school remotely and it will continue online through at least Nov. 12, the end of the district's first grading period.

"It is our hope that we can return to our school buildings in at least some capacity after that date," said district schools Superintendent William Lee in a letter recommending the plan. "However, we will re-evaluate the health situation and our program on October 9."

Lee said administrators believe the district could start the school year with some kind of hybrid approach, despite lingering concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

"However, a school closure or learning disruption would be inevitable, and stability and consistency are essential to student learning," Lee said in the letter written last week. "With COVID-19 cases increasing over the past month, it has become abundantly clear that a hybrid model could see intermittent school closures on a weekly basis, which would not only do a disservice to student learning, but would also continue to put our community members' health in jeopardy."

He said staffing also would be hard if schools started in person, with concerns about teachers and other employees requesting leaves of absence, getting sick or having to stay home if mandatory quarantines return.

"Starting our school year remotely provides the best opportunity for COVID mitigation and safety, as well as the best option for educational continuity and consistency," Lee said.

Several Bucks County school districts are reconsidering earlier reopening plans due to health concerns for students, teachers and staff as the coronavirus pandemic lingers on.

Pennsbury, New Hope-Solebury and Central Bucks school districts are reworking plans and delaying in-person schooling amid mounting health and staffing concerns.