2 Demonstrations Planned Saturday Over Central Bucks Schools

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Days after the Central Bucks School District abruptly announced it would switch to an all-virtual start to the school year due to staffing shortages, the community is mobilizing its voices through two separate demonstrations Saturday.

More than 50 protesters are expected to convene at the old courthouse at 11 a.m. to express their opposition to the online start to school and show their support for reopening buildings.

Less than a mile away, at the same time, a group of students and parents plans to rally in support of Central Bucks teachers and staff. "Within an hour of posting the event tonight, over 100 people have already responded with comments of appreciation, hope and plans to attend," said organizer Sana Mahmud.

The events will play out in real time the division that has penetrated the community since Monday morning's announcement of the controversial scheduling change.

RELATED: Bucks Co. Schools Announce Reversals To Reopening Plans

Many are outraged that a lack of staffing is the obstacle to resuming in-person learning, and they are calling for the district to do whatever it takes to get students back in the classrooms this fall. Others support the district's decision and say virtual learning is the only way to keep everyone safe amid the ongoing pandemic.

"We want to assure our teachers and support staff that we support them and have immense gratitude for all that they do, and send a message to administration that the students and community are in support of their decision and stand behind them,” the student organizers behind the pro-teacher rally said in an event announcement submitted to Patch.

But organizers of the protest against the virtual start say they fear children are falling behind and that virtual programs will continue to hinder their learning.

Lauren Feldman, one of the parents organizing the protest against the virtual school start, said this is her first experience with a public demonstration. "I figured what could be better for my first time than for our kids education. Give them a voice that they themselves cannot give," Feldman told Patch.

In preparation for the protest to reopen schools, organizers have made T-shirts. The shirts, which are being sold online for $5, feature the district logo and say: "Reopen our schools #kidsfirst."

The move to an all-virtual start came after administrators reviewed responses from Central Bucks parents regarding their instructional preferences. Three choices had been offered: hybrid, online only, and traditional five-day for elementary students only.

"Upon receipt of these responses, we applied the data to our educational models and began to prepare teacher placement to deliver the various options. As our administrative staff interpreted the data and fulfilled our educational plan with faculty and staff assignments, it became quickly apparent that we do not have adequate staff to safely open school," Superintendent John Kopicki wrote in the Monday morning announcement.

The district has not responded to numerous requests from Patch seeking information on how many resignations or leave requests were submitted to prompt the administration to keep the buildings closed.

The abrupt change of plans sparked outrage among some community members. There are more than 800 comments logged on the district's Facebook post about the scheduling update.