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BELLEFONTE -- The Bellefonte Area School District has done an admirable job during the current wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, superintendent Tammie Burnaford said during Tuesday night's school board meeting.
During her superintendent's report, Burnaford talked about the challenges that the 2021-22 school year has presented for the district -- and how it's been able to keep it doors open. According to Burnaford, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has not been as engaged as it was during the 2020-21 school year.
"We don't have the support of the Department of Health that we had last year," Burnaford noted. "Last year, if we had cases we would be in touch with them … they would tell us quarantine dates. It was much more fluid. We reported cases to the Department of Health."
Burnaford said that last spring, the district began sending "self report forms" to the DOH. However, recently, the self report forms came to an end.
"We no longer report cases to the Department of Health. We submit the cases, the case counts and the number of students quarantined to the Department of Ed every Friday, which is very different," Burnaford said.
According to Burnaford, the lack of engagement from the DOH has "presented some problems."
Like most districts in the Commonwealth, Bellefonte adheres to state's mask mandate. That, coupled with social distancing and frequent hand hygiene, has kept the district's case count low, allowing it to keep its doors open.
Burnaford credited the district's staff.
"Our building principals and our nurses have been left to figure out the quarantines, figure out the quarantine dates," Burnaford said.
Additionally, parents have helped the district by reporting cases and things of that nature.
"One of the reasons we stayed in school was because parents were so helpful and cooperative with us. They told us as soon as they had a case … we could get contact tracing started. The same things are happening this year. We've been able to do that," Burnaford said.
She said that district has faced some additional challenges.
"The difference this year is that we have a lot of sniffles going around. Sometimes they look like seasonal allergies, a seasonal flu or cold … and it turns out to be COVID. Our parents have kept in contact with us and kept their students home when they can. That's worked well," Burnaford said.
Through it all, Burnaford said the goal remains the same -- keep everyone healthy and the doors open.
"It's a work in a progress sometimes, but we are going to do the best we can to keep our kids in school. Keeping them in school is what's best for them," Burnaford said.
In other business Tuesday night, the board:
-- Heard a detailed comprehensive plan from Burnaford and Dr. Kris Vancas, the district's director of curriculum and instruction.
-- Heard a detailed report from board member Donna Smith, who said she recently met with Pennsylvania State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz and Rep. Kerry Benninghoff. Among the topics discussed were: An invitation to visit Bellefonte schools, more flexibility regarding teacher certification, substitute and contracted position shortages, success the district has had in keeping quarantines to a minimum, opposition to house bill 1332, requiring teachers/administrators to post more detailed "curriculum" to district websites and charter school funding reform.
-- Approved a pair of donations -- $750 to the Bellefonte cheerleaders for supplies from Smith and 100 novels for Bellefonte Area High School from Stephanie Schroeder, an assistant professor of social studies education at Penn State University.
The Bellefonte school board will meet again at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3 at the middle school cafeteria. The meeting is open to the public and masks are required. The meeting will also be streamed live via Zoom through the district's website.