Council Rock Delays 5-Day In-Person Learning Until 2021

NEWTOWN, PA — The Council Rock School Board voted Thursday to suspend the start of five-day in-person learning at its elementary schools, changing course from a plan that would have brought those students to full-time in-person learning by mid-December.

After several hours of discussion, the board voted 5-4 to delay the start of five-day in-person learning at the K-6 level until Monday, Jan. 11. Elementary students were previously slated to return to school on Dec. 14, with students in grades 7-12 allowed to return to school five days a week on Jan. 4.

Board members Andy Block, Denise Brooks, Mariann McKee, Ed Salamon and Ed Tate voted in favor of the change. Board members Mark Byelich, Joseph Hidalgo, Kristin Marcell and Michael Thorwart voted against it.

Superintendent Robert Fraser proposed the delayed start date in response to significant staffing issues at the elementary level.

"Obviously there are health and safety concerns, but my driving motivation here is operational, Fraser said. "I am not confident right now that we would be able to effectively staff a K-6 five-day a week opening in 10 days."

Several board members who had agreed to the Dec. 4 expressed having second thoughts about continuing with the plan amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in Bucks County.

"When I voted in favor of Dec. 14 and Jan. 4 as our move to five days, I was hoping that Dr. Fraser's prediction was going to be incorrect — that the case counts weren't going to rise to this level," Board member Edward Tate said. "Clearly, that is the case."

While Fraser proposed elementary students return on Tuesday, Jan. 19, after winter break, the board ultimately compromised and approved a Jan. 11 start date for elementary students. As for students in grades 7-12, the board will hold a special meeting on Thursday, Dec. 10, to vote on a return date.

You can watch Thursday's five-and-a-half hour meeting below: