Updated: 5:45 a.m. Friday
Neshaminy School District announced moments ago it will not be open Friday due to staffing shortages. Private and Tech school transportation WILL be provided. School offices and District office will be open. Please note that NO staff or student COVID-19 infections have been reported to the District at this point.
Lower Bucks School districts started to announce school closings Thursday in light of recent developments and concerns amid COVID-19, others have decided to wait for additional information.
Morrisville School officials announced all schools will be closed for students on Friday with staff reporting to prepare for the possibility of medium or long-term closure, Superintendent Jason Harris said.
Shortly thereafter the Pennsbury School District announced it was closing its doors on Friday also for deep cleaning and instructional planning should the District need to close for an extended period in the future the statement said.
The School District also said:
- Elementary conferences are cancelled.
- The Kids Care Day Off Program is also cancelled.
- All faculty and staff — including support staff — should report to their regularly-scheduled buildings or departments.
- All afterschool and evening activities are cancelled in all buildings on Friday and Saturday.
- NOTE: SATs will be held as scheduled on Saturday.
Neshaminy School District which closed its doors for one day for cleaning and reopened its doors, Thursday announced “additional steps” for the community.
- All Neshaminy field trips, conferences, and District-approved travel plans that take our students and/or staff out of the District will be canceled/postponed.
- In addition, student travel within the District, from school to school, and to other local venues will also be canceled/postponed during this time period, unless it is part of the individual student’s regular academic program.
Student Before/After School Activities
- Currently, we will continue with our spring sports programs in the middle schools and high school. These are primarily in outdoor settings. This plan has the potential to change, and we will continue to monitor this situation.
- Extended School Day Activities. Other co-curricular events in our schools (clubs, tutoring, activities) that conclude by 5:15 p.m. will be held as scheduled.
Before and After School Childcare
Neshaminy will not be changing the Kids Club program’s access to the building for their before school or after school program.
Indoor Evening and Weekend Events
All evening and weekend use of Neshaminy’s indoor facilities is suspended during this time frame. This includes usage by District groups, PTOs, and other outside community groups and organizations. [One exception will be the Saturday, March 14, administration of the SAT testing.]
Outdoor Evening and Weekend Events
Evening and weekend usage of Neshaminy’s outdoor facilities will be held as scheduled.
The Bensalem School District said it plans to remain open but is constantly reevaluating the fluidity of the situation and refine specific directives with stakeholders on Friday.
“Closing our schools will have a tremendous impact on our kids, families, community, instruction, labor and economic issues will be prevalent and cascading. The goal is to stay open, although community spread and inability to staff our buildings or provide instruction would prompt closure,” a statement said from District Superintendent, Dr. Lee. “As this is an extremely fluid situation, we anticipate directives may need to shift, and we will continue to communicate our efforts to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19 throughout the District and county,” he said.
The Bristol Borough School District released a statement Thursday at 5 p.m.
We continue to actively engage in planning and discussion around the impact of coronavirus, both in and around our community. The situation is very fluid and has been changing rapidly in recent days. To further protect students, staff and community stakeholders, and to minimize the gatherings of students and others beyond the regular school day program, the District is taking the following additional steps. Please remember that anything on this list is subject to change as more information and guidance becomes available,” officials said.
Travel and Trips
All Bristol Borough field trips, conferences, and District-approved travel plans that take our
students and/or staff out of the District will be canceled/postponed. Extended School Day Activities:
All after school programs will continue as scheduled, including 21st century programs, sports,
and art programs, as these programs are an extension of the school day. Specific guidance
from PIAA may change athletic competitions. We will keep you updated.
Indoor Evening and Weekend Events
All evening and weekend usage of Bristol Borough’s indoor facilities is suspended through
April 14, 2020. This includes District groups, PTOs, and all other community groups and
organizations.
Outdoor Evening and Weekend Events
Evening and weekend usage of Bristol Borough’s outdoor facilities will be held as
scheduled.
Events and Activities:
All events and activities that involve a mass gathering of individuals will be postponed and
reevaluated after April 14th
.
Access to Building During the School Day:
The Bristol Borough School District is limiting access of community members to the school
buildings during the school day.
The Bristol Township School announced Thursday evening the same exact measures and precautions for dealing with the potential pandemic locally.
INDOOR Evening and Weekend Events Canceled from March 12, 2020 through April 13, 2020
Evening and weekend usage of Bristol Township’s indoor facilities is suspended through Spring Break, which ends on April 13, 2020. This includes usage by Home & School Associations as well as outside community groups and organizations. Some exceptions may be made for groups comprised entirely of Bristol Township students and staff.
OUTDOOR Evening and Weekend Events
Evening and weekend usage of Bristol Township’s OUTDOOR facilities will be held as scheduled.
Before School and After School Childcare
The Before and After School Childcare Program will operate on its normal schedule.
Extended School Day Activities
Non-athletic events in our schools (clubs, tutoring, activities) that conclude by 5:30 p.m. will be held as scheduled.
Athletics/Competitions
We are following PIAA decisions pertaining to athletics. This plan has the potential to change, and we will continue to monitor advisements and communications from the PIAA.
Travel and Trips
We are consulting with local and state health officials and school leadership to review safety protocols and feasibility for field trips, conferences, and district approved travel. Information (including cancelling and rescheduling) for trips and travel will be communicated directly to affected students, families, and staff. Travel within the district, from school to school, will continue at this time. We acknowledge the impact of this measure as we take into consideration the safety, health, and well-being of students, employees, and families.
At this moment, there are no plans to cancel schools for an extended period of time, district officials said adding the plan will be reexamined regularly, taking into consideration the most updated information and recommendations from local, state, and national governmental and health agencies.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) scheduled a webinar for school districts Friday for coordination with the Governor’s Office, Department of Health and Emergency Management to provide the most up todate information and guidance for school districts throughout the commonwealth.
Updates to this story as they become available.
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