Council Rock Middle, High Schools To Begin 5-Day Learning Feb. 1

NEWTOWN, PA — Middle and high school students in the Council Rock School District can return to school next semester for five days a week.

The school board voted 8-1 Thursday to allow middle and high school students to return to school for full-time starting Feb. 1. Board member Denise Brooks was the only dissenting vote.

As Bucks County continues to experience a surge of COVID-19 cases, a majority of the board remains adamant that schools are a safe place for children. County Health Director Dr. David Damsker, who has advocated for keeping schools open during the pandemic, has said the majority of school-aged children who are getting the virus are not attending full-time, in-person classes.

Superintendent Robert Fraser has advocated for a more cautious approach than the nine-member board. Last month, he proposed a start date of Feb. 22 for middle and high school students, but only at the behest of board members who are eager to transition from the district's current hybrid model to full-time in-person instruction.

Fraser said he would prefer to keep the hybrid model in place at the secondary level, where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is ostensibly lower, but was willing to compromise with the board's position.

"Knowing the science around adolescents with COVID — the ability to catch and spread COVID more regularly than our younger students — it does cause me discomfort," Fraser said.

Board member Michael Thorwart pushed back, asking Fraser for the source of his data.

"I'd ask you to send me the actual data and science you're using that says elementary kids are different from middle and high school kids," he said.

The board also voted unanimously to increase staffing at the elementary and secondary levels as the district grapples with a dearth of substitute teachers, support staff and teacher assistants. Human Resources Director Christine Taylor said the shortage has come due to increased leaves of absences, staff quarantines, or staff illness during the pandemic.

Elementary students will move from hybrid to five-day learning on Monday, Jan. 11. Beginning Wed., Jan. 13, high schoolers will be offered a grab-and-go lunch and dismissed at 1:15 p.m. and middle school will be dismissed at 2:07 p.m. after a normal in-school lunch.