• June 24, 2020

    Dear Methacton Families,

    While I know that school has just ended for what most of us can agree has been one of the most challenging years on record, I want you to know that we have begun to develop our Roadmap to Reopening Methacton Schools. As we work towards the specifics of what this means for all our families and their children, I want everyone to know that we are keeping our student and staff safety at the forefront of our decision-making process, along with ensuring high-quality and structured program delivery for all students.

    We are preparing to welcome back all students to school on Monday, August 31, 2020, barring any unforeseen closures or restrictions for on premises instruction. In general, our plan will provide on premises instruction by our Methacton teachers.

    As of this writing, we are organizing our plan with consideration to our physical spaces, staffing, and available resources so that we can provide as close to a traditional in person start of school as possible. While using guidance from multiple sources we are including preventative measures where and when reasonable and appropriate. We are making classroom and building configuration changes to promote social distancing and safety without compromising the learning environment.  In addition, we have invested in cleaning and sanitizing equipment that enables us to thoroughly, effectively, and efficiently clean individual classrooms, materials and equipment or entire schools rapidly. Our plan will encourage student and staff use of masks or shields.

    As described in our Roadmap document, we will also have an alternative to the on premises return to school. Methacton will leverage the feedback from parent survey and community focus group meetings and will structure a Methacton Virtual Academy that focuses on live instruction by Methacton teachers, is based on Methacton curriculum, has specific daily and weekly structured learning activities, leverages a combination of whole class, small group, and individual instruction, and other supporting asynchronous instruction and enrichment activities.

    Recently, the Board of School Directors approved the first, in what will be many, return to school plans this past Tuesday for “Off-Season Return to Play” plan. This plan will be followed up with a plan for the safe resumption of practices and in season participation in July.

    In closing, I want to thank our students, parents, and staff for their patience, flexibility, and resilience. We’ve created a Roadmap to Reopening Methacton Schools section on the district website for all matters related this process. Please look for more information on these and other return to school matters in the coming weeks. We plan to present our return to school plans to the Board of School Directors at a meeting scheduled for July 21, 2020 and, if approved, will be posted to the district website and communicated to all families shortly thereafter.

    Sincerely,

    Dr. David Zerbe

    Superintendent of Schools