Trending
MILL HALL -- The closure of schools throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania due to COVID-19 was the hot topic during Thursday night's Keystone Central school board work session
For the second time since the closure began, the meeting was held virtually over Zoom. According to the website, 50 people were logged in, either watching or participating in the meeting.
During the meeting, superintendent Jacquelyn Martin talked about the closure and the effects that the COVID-19 crisis is having on schools throughout the state. She said that the district is still planning to have its last day of school on Tuesday, June 2. The reasoning behind that, Martin said, is that some graduating seniors are joining the military, some have job opportunities and some will be taking summer classes at college.
The board must approve keeping June 2 as the last day of school.
"That's my recommendation to the board," Martin said.
Martin spoke at length about Act 13 of 2020, which was signed into law on March 27 and became effective immediately. According to Martin, the provisions of the Act apply only to the 2019-20 school year and are as a result of the World Health Organization declaring a global pandemic on March 11.
"The Act, and the requirements within it will expire at the end of the fiscal year-on June 30, 2020," Martin explained. "Some of the language is very broad and we have been seeking advice from our solicitors in order to stay compliant with this rapid new law."
Martin shared some key points of Act 13. They are:
-- The 180-day requirement has been waived, and PDE's guidance clarifies that schools are not required to adjust calendars. However, schools will be required to report their total days and hours for the 2019-20 school year
-- Act 13 of 2020 also requires school entities to make a good faith effort to plan to offer continuity of education through alternative means during the period of closure. In providing continuity of education, PDE's guidance provides some options, including planned instruction and enrichment and review. Act 13 requires school entities to develop and submit continuity of education plans. While these plans do not require board approval, I would like to share our plan for Keystone Central with the board members and members of the public next week at our April 9, 2020 meeting. All state assessment exams have been canceled for this school year.
-- Act 13 of 2020 states that no employee should receive any more or any less "compensation" than the employee would otherwise been entitled to receive had the pandemic not occurred. It is our understanding that the term "compensation" is broad and includes both salary and benefits.
-- Act 13 of 2020 requires the state to provide the same amount of subsidy payments, reimbursements and allocations school entities would have been entitled to receive had the pandemic not occurred. The $2 trillion federal stimulus bill, the CARES Act, designates about $31 billion to states for education. Of that amount a portion is available for k-12, and will be disbursed to states shortly. We are documenting expenses and await for more direction on the details of this legislation.
-- All school districts must continue to pay charter school tuition for those students that were enrolled in the charter school on March 13, 2020.
-- Act 13 of 2020 allows school entities to re-negotiate their transportation contracts, focusing on personnel and fixed costs, to continue paying the contractor during the closure. If a school entity does renegotiate its contract, the contractor must provide weekly proof that it has maintained its complement of employees in place as of March 13, 2020 and has not furloughed anyone. If a school entity renegotiates the contract and pays the contractor pursuant to the provisions in Act 13, the school entity will receive transportation subsidy payments in 2020-21 at the normal rate (regardless of the fact that schools were closed for a period of time). To be eligible to receive the normal transportation reimbursements for next year, a school entity must continue to pay transportation contractors pursuant to existing or re-negotiated contracts.
"I know that is a lot of information," Martin said of Act 13. "We're in meetings daily with other superintendents across the state as well as superintendents in IU-10."
Martin said that she's pleased to be serving the district at a unique time in history.
"I am also very proud to serve as the superintendent of KCSD, especially during this world crisis. The people who work in this district make it special and time after time … they do not disappoint. We remain committed to developing lifelong learners who are adaptable, resilient, productive, and of high moral character," Martin said.
Martin said that to date, the district has distributed 17,200 meals to students.
"Special thanks to everyone who has been helping with meals, keeping our buildings clean and maintaining the operations of the district so that the children in our community can continue to learn and grow. I also want to recognize the families who are working collaboratively with our teachers to support this historic adjustment to our educational programming. Together we will successfully get through this crisis," Martin said.
The board will meet again via Zoom at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 9 for its voting session.