Central Bucks Eliminating Hybrid Option For Elementary Students

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The Central Bucks School District is eliminating the hybrid option for students at the elementary level.

District officials said they made the decision based on feedback from parents in which a majority expressed support for traditional five-day learning.

"We understand this may be disappointing for some families who wished to stay in the hybrid learning model or those who had hoped to migrate into hybrid," Superintendent John Kopicki said in a letter to families of Central Bucks elementary students. "We did consider clustering hybrid students at one or more schools; however, this would be contrary to the clear priorities that our families expressed - maintaining current school placement and preserving their current teacher wherever possible."

The decision comes as Bucks County health officials report record numbers of COVID cases in the county. Despite the increases locally and statewide, State Health Secretary Rachel Levine said there are no plans for school closures except in extreme cases and school districts may use their own discretion when deciding whether to shut down schools.

Central Bucks reported four additional cases at several of its schools on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 52 since Sept. 16.

About 260 Bucks County students and 60 school staff members have been infected this semester, according to Bucks County Health Director David Damsker. Most of those infections have occurred outside the classroom, at social gatherings, athletic events and weddings.

"People are getting it from unmasked exposures," he said.

Families can select their preferred program online through Monday, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. If a student is already enrolled in virtual learning only, you do not need to make this change. Families whose children are participating in the hybrid model will be automatically placed in the five-day program unless they indicate a change.

Principals will review all program enrollment changes, with final placements posted to the parent portal by Dec. 2 at 4 p.m.