Tredyffrin/Easttown Schools Returning To Virtual Instruction

TREDYFFRIN TOWNSHIP, PA — For three consecutive weeks, COVID-19 transmission in Chester County has been rising, and Tredyffrin/Easttown School District in response has decided to return to all-virtual instruction starting Monday, for two full weeks.

TESD Superintendent Dr. Richard Gusick explained last night the reasoning behind the two-week move to virtual classes. The district had considered the concerns of public health authorities, including the Chester County Health Department, about community spread of the coronavirus as people travel over the Thanksgiving holiday.

"Keeping students at home after Thanksgiving allows time for new cases to be identified and contained before students would return to school buildings," said Gusick.

The district has seen 12 cases of COVID-19 in the past month among its 6,943 students and 1,067 staff members.

In the most recent week's count, ending Nov. 16, there were three cases in T/E school district; two students at Valley Forge Middle School and one student at Conestoga High School. The week before saw one student case and two staff cases in the district. The week prior to that saw five student cases, but no staff cases.

Gusick told parents last night that the "Chester County Health Department (CCHD) reported COVID-19 data that reflects very high community transmission in Chester County for the weeks of Nov. 2 and Nov. 9. We anticipate the numbers that will be reported this coming Friday will again be in the very high category, which will mark three weeks of community transmission at the highest level."

The TESD COVID-19 Dashboard can be viewed here.

Tredyffrin/Easttown School District will move from hybrid instruction to all virtual instruction for all students beginning Nov. 23 continuing through Dec. 4.

Parent conferences will proceed virtually as planned, the district said.

"At this time, the CCHD and the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDOH) have indicated that there is substantial community spread within Chester County and surrounding counties. Health authorities indicate that when a region maintains a very high presence of COVID-19, schools begin to see in-school transmission. TESD is responding proactively to reduce this risk," Gusick said.

He said that although the level of positive cases of COVID-19 has been low with staff and students in our schools, the number of teachers and students who have needed to self-isolate due to potential contact with confirmed positive cases had dramatically risen, with 143 students and staff needing to quarantine during the week of Nov. 9.

"TESD understands the importance of in-person instruction, and we intend to return to hybrid instruction as pandemic conditions permit," said Gusick.

Based on new guidance from CCHD, the district will be monitoring countywide transmission data, prevalence of COVID-19 in the community and TESD schools. Administration also will consider the district's ability to staff our schools and buses.

The district's plan to return to hybrid instruction as conditions and circumstances allow is in place. Tentative dates for return to hybrid instruction are:

• Monday, Dec. 7 – Identified students with special needs returning to school buildings.
• Thursday, Dec. 10 – Our regular hybrid schedule resumes for elementary students, with students in cohort L-Z who selected hybrid instruction returning to school buildings. This allows for a 14-day period from Thanksgiving and a 10-day period from the end of the break.
• Monday, Dec. 14 – Our regular hybrid schedule resumes for all students in grades K-12, with students in cohort A-K who selected hybrid instruction returning to school buildings.

"We must emphasize that these dates are tentative," said Gusick. He said TESD will provide updates to families closer to the dates listed.

"We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we work to determine the best time to bring students back safely into our school buildings," he said.

Gusick emphasized the district will begin enforcing newly issued face covering and traveler testing orders in district school buildings and on school grounds as of Friday. On Nov. 17, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced updated face covering and traveler testing orders. The updated face covering order took effect at midnight Nov. 18 and the traveler testing order takes effect Nov. 20.

The face covering order states face coverings must be worn at all times if an individual is not able to remain physically distant — at least 6 feet away — from someone who lives in a different household.

Face coverings are also required when indoors, even when physically distant from individuals from outside of the household. This means that even when persons are 6 feet apart, a face covering must be worn while inside, if visiting with people from other households.

The state's traveler testing order says Pennsylvanians visiting other states are required to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to their return to Pennsylvania or to quarantine for 14 days upon return to Pennsylvania.

When TESD returns to in-person instruction, students will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test or attend school virtually while completing the recommended quarantine, Gusick explained.