Mars Area School District issued the following announcement.
Mars Area School District has begun the 2020-2021 School Year. Our schools have reopened in accordance with the District’s School Reopening Health & Safety Plan, which establishes three (3) educational options for students:
Traditional Instruction
Live Stream Interactive (LSI) Instruction
Mars Area Cyber Academy
These options have enabled our parents/guardians the ability to choose the best educational pathways for their child(ren). For more information regarding each option, click on the "Instructional Options" link in the right-hand column.
** UPDATE **
District School Closure Extended (posted 12.21.20)
Students (K-12) to return to traditional, in-person instruction on Monday, Jan. 11
This message is to inform you that Mars Area School District is postponing the K-12 return to traditional,
in-person instruction until Monday, Jan. 11. Therefore, when school resumes on Monday, Jan. 4, immediately following Winter Break, students (K-12) will continue utilizing remote learning.
The District had hoped to reopen our schools to students on Tuesday, Jan. 5; however, the decision has been made to extend the current closure in order to provide additional time after the holiday break for our Administrative Team to review and discuss guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania Department of Health as well as Butler County COVID transmission rates at that time. If it is determined that it is not safe to reopen our schools to students on Monday, Jan. 11, then the District may further push the return to traditional, in-person instruction to Wednesday, Jan. 20.
Throughout this extended closure, teachers will continue to offer live instruction from their classrooms and will be available to their students each period of the school day. Information regarding students’ lessons and assignments will be posted in the Schoology learning management system.
Mars Area School District closed its schools to students, beginning on Monday, Dec. 1, as a mitigation strategy throughout the Holiday Season. Please note that the closure was not prompted by any new or additional COVID cases in the District or our schools. The primary factors that led to the District’s decision to close our schools include:
Pennsylvania Department of Education and Pennsylvania Department of Health recommendations to move to full remote learning.
Butler County’s “Substantial” level of community transmission as well as the recent spikes in COVID cases during the last few weeks.
Significant capacity concerns at local hospitals.
A possible school district staffing and/or substitute shortage.
The increased risks associated with social gatherings and travel during the Holiday Season.
Mars Area School District encourages all of our families to continue to follow all COVID safety protocols including washing and/or sanitizing hands, maintaining social distancing, and wearing a face covering (mask or shield), whenever possible. We truly appreciate your patience and support as our District is continuing to navigate through this pandemic. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mark Gross, Superintendent
Mars Area School District
Original source can be found here.
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