Norristown Schools Will Not Hold In-Person Instruction In 2020

NORRISTOWN, PA — The Norristown School District announced a decisive step in their coronavirus mitigation protocols on Tuesday, stating that no in-person schooling would be held through at least the end of 2020.

While the school district had been considering a hybrid option, they will hold online instruction only through Jan. 8, 2021. That applies to all students in all grades, from K through 12. They will consider offering an in-person option beginning Jan. 11, in addition to online learning, if health conditions improve.

The decision was influenced by discussions with pediatrics groups regarding mortality rates of coronavirus.

"I will not be the superintendent who puts anyone, not one child, not one staff member, in harm's way," Norristown Superintendent Christopher Dormer said Tuesday in the announcement of the final plan.

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Students will follow a regular five-day per week schedule online. All students will receive a Chromebook, and the district will continue its food service to children.

The district said they recognized that some families need to return to work, leaving them in a difficult position. They pointed to a failure at the federal level for the present situation.

"However, we do not feel we whould rush students back into the classroom until it until it is safe," Norristown School Board President Shae Ashe said in a letter sent home to families. "Our students and staff should not be the petri dish of a killer virus as a result of a lack of leadership in the U.S. Department of Education."

Dormer said that he had been committed to offering a three option plan of hybrid, online, and virtual learning for months. Administrators and more than 50 volunteers have been sifting through conflicting guidance from numerous agencies in an attempt to come up with a reopening plan. But Tuesday, Dormer said he had been too focused on if the district "could" offer multiple options, and not if they "should."

"We cannot continue to plan based on what was feasible, or what we can do to the greatest extent possible," Dormer said, saying more needs to be considered.

A survey of parents in the school district sent out in July found that 30 percent wanted all in person instruction, 30 percent wanted hybrid instruction, 20 percent wanted all online instruction, and 20 percent were unsure.