New Hope–Solebury Schools Plan For 'Total Reopen' September 1

NEW HOPE, PA — The New Hope–Solebury School district has approved a plan to return all students and staff to five-day, in-person instruction by September 1. The district's safety plan, released Tuesday, allows students to remain in full-time remote learning.

However, unlike hybrid or blended models embraced by other schools — in which some grades return for in-person learning while others stay home, or in which students alternate between home and classroom instruction — families in the New Hope–Solebury district must choose one or the other.

The full safety plan can be read here. Parents and students must decide which program they will enroll for the fall by Aug. 6.

In a Wednesday letter to parents, superintendent Charles Lentz noted that virtual instruction this fall will include "significant changes" from that which was delivered in spring, including "a significant increase in the amount of live teaching or live streaming with established time for direct engagement in a virtual class setting."

"This will often include livestreaming of classes from the regular classroom," Lentz wrote, "so students can be included with their peers in the instructional program."

For students returning to classrooms, the district announced that it would require at least three feet of social distancing, institute mandatory "hand-washing recesses," and ban all volunteers and non-essential visitors to school buildings.

Last week, the Central Bucks School District passed a similar safety plan approving a reopen to in-school instruction — but only for elementary school students.

Letz's letter to the district can be read in full here. Parents can find registration details and instructional plans on the district website.

According to the Bucks County Health Department, confirmed cases of coronavirus have increased in New Hope and Solebury, but on Wednesday county health department spokesperson said that local health officials are not concerned about a spike.

"We do not have any indication of any large outbreaks in New Hope and Solebury," the spokesperson told the New Hope Free Press. "There are no numbers to indicate any outbreak in the making."