Council Rock Students Begin In-Person Learning

NEWTOWN, PA — Students in the Council Rock School District who opted for hybrid learning began in-person instruction Tuesday.

Under a plan approved in a narrow 5-4 vote by the Council Rock School Board during a contentious July meeting, families had the option of picking from hybrid learning or entirely virtual, the latter of which began on Sept. 8. Some school board members had pushed for five-day in-person learning at the elementary level, a plan currently in place at the Central Bucks School District, fearing that some students would fall behind.

Others wanted the hybrid model to be phased out later in the school year as coronavirus cases declined.

The district has implemented numerous safety measures to ensure the safety of its students and staff, including regularly cleaning and sanitizing shared spaces, socially distancing as much as possible, staggering the use of communal spaces and hallways and restricting the use of cafeterias and other congregate areas. Desks will be cleaned on average three times daily at the elementary level and six times daily at the secondary level. Lockers, cubbies or water fountains will not be available, and students are being asked to refrain from sharing personal objects and supplies.

More than 240 cases of the virus were recorded from Sept. 20-26 in Bucks County, according to the county health department. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, more than 8,200 Bucks County residents have tested positive for the virus and 525 deaths have been attributed to the virus.

Along with the rest of southeastern Pennsylvania, Bucks County is considered to have a moderate level of transmission.

Parents with questions can visit the Council Rock School District Reopening Hub for additional information and resources.