PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The School District of Philadelphia is planning to keep classes in person, at least for now, as the omicron COVID-19 variant continues to spread.
Twenty-one of the district’s more than 200 schools have had classes or entire schools go virtual because of COVID-19 cases among students or staff. Superintendent William Hite said the districtwide goal is to keep classes in person.
“It’s unlikely that schools will close unless the whole city shuts down again,” he said. “Our goal is to make sure that schools remain open.”
Related
Any building closures, Hite said, would be done under a recommendation from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH).
“We will close schools that have high case counts and go virtual as directed by PDPH. But our goal is to make sure that we maintain the ability to attend schools for our young people,” he explained.
Even in schools with high case counts, it’s believed that those students and staff contracted the virus outside of schools. Students are safer in the controlled environment of a school, Hite said.
When classes resume on Jan. 4, anyone who refuses to wear a mask will be sent home.
Related
“We’re going to get really serious about that. So if you don’t mask, you won’t be able to remain in school for that day,” Hite said. “At some schools, there are more issues than at others, where large percentages of young people are not wearing masks. And there are large percentages, unfortunately, in some cases of adults who are not masking.”
Hite said all adults in schools will be responsible for helping principals enforce the mask rules. “[Principals] can’t be in every classroom and every hallway and every cafeteria. But every adult in the school must also be responsible for ensuring compliance with this mandate.”
In a letter to the district, city Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole said only a small fraction of COVID-19 cases have spread in schools, and she supports the district’s decision to keep learning in person.
The following district schools are in a 10-day virtual pause and include their reopening dates:
Ethan Allen Elementary School — Dec. 24
Samuel Pennypacker Elementary School — Dec. 27
John Welsh Elementary School — Dec. 27
Abram Jenks Elementary School — Dec. 27
James J. Sullivan Elementary School — Jan. 4
Kenderton Elementary School — Jan. 4
Laura W. Waring Elementary School — Jan. 4
Penn Treaty High School — Jan. 4
Blankenburg Elementary School — Jan. 4
Laura H. Carnell Elementary School — Jan. 4
Fox Chase Elementary School — Jan. 4
Anna B. Day Elementary School — Jan. 4
Delaplaine McDaniel Elementary School — Jan. 4
Thomas Mifflin Elementary School — Jan. 4
William McKinley Elementary School — Jan. 4
Hon. Luis Munoz-Marin Elementary School — Jan. 4
Roberto Clemente Middle School — Jan. 4
Richmond Elementary School — Jan. 4
The U School — Jan. 4
J.H. Brown Elementary School — Jan. 4
Eleanor C. Emlen Elementary School — Jan. 4