Bristol Township Schools To Go Entirely Virtual In The Fall

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, PA—When school starts back in the fall, it will look a lot different that it did at the beginning of the previous school year. Classes will be entirely online - at least for now.

In a 9-0 vote, the Bristol Township school board voted Monday to recommend virtual learning for all its students during the first marking period.

"This has been a tough decision for all of us, but the health of all our children, workers and everybody in this community was our major concern," School Board President James P. Morgan III said. "Therefore, we thought the virtual scenario was the best option."

Morgan said the school board is aware that going virtual beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8 will be an inconvenience for many parents - especially for those who work outside the home.

"We apologize for that. It was a very tough decision, but that's what we're going to stick with," Morgan said.

The district has not yet decided if teachers would be working from school buildings or teaching from home, Superintendent Dr. Melanie Gehrens said.

According to the school board, before the first marking period comes to an end, it will re-evaluate whether virtual learning should continue or if adjustments to how students learn should be made. How the school board proceeds into the second school semester will largely depend on whether the number of COVID-19 cases in the area are going up or down.

The school board’s health and safety plan currently shows the district has planned to easily transition between 100 percent virtual, hybrid and 100 percent in-person schedules.

It also calls for increased cleaning of high-touch areas throughout the day per CDC guidelines, hand sanitizer stations in each classroom, increase outside air ventilation/circulation through windows and HVAC systems, spacing students at a minimum of 6 feet and more.

To watch Monday's school board meeting, see below: