DALLASTOWN, Pa. — Editor's note: The above video aired before the decision to table the vote was made.
UPDATE: During a virtual school board meeting Thursday night, Dallastown Area School District tabled the decision to go fully remote for the start of the school year after a recommendation by the superintendent to do so.
The School District also voted 5-4 to go against the Governor Tom Wolf's recommendation and allow fall sports to play.
However, Dr. Joshua Doll pulled the action items, meaning that Dallastown will stay with its original back to school plan, and sports will continue based on what the PIAA recommends on Friday.
During the meeting, school board members said they had received hundreds of emails from parents ever since Superintendent Dr. Doll made the recommendation to go fully remote. At most, more than 2,200 people watched the meeting via a YouTube live stream.
The board gave eligible people two minutes to share their thoughts and concerns. A number of parents cried while pleading with the board to consider some form of hybrid option this fall. Many cited the social benefits of being in school. Board members could only listen during that time.
"I am a believer in in-school learning but understand the health and safety of students and teachers is extremely important," said resident Paul Burns. "I want to understand why Dallastown is not considering a hybrid approach. York Suburban is implementing a hybrid approach. I'm wondering why Dallastown cannot do what York Suburban is doing. I believe a hybrid approach is the best approach."
"Remote learning option isn't an option at all for him," said Amber Kraft, a parent, during an interview with FOX43.
Kraft says her 12-year-old son Jaedyn has special needs, and he can't learn through a traditional Math or English book. He needs in-person, hands on instruction. Ever since, the COVID-19 storm rolled through, mom says Jaedyn has suffered.
"With him, even mentioning the iPad, he would start crying," explained Jaedyn. "His teacher, super patient, and God bless her, she did the best she could. He couldn't even listen to what she was saying because he was anxious and crying the entire time so he has basically gotten no schooling since the end of March."
Like many parents, Amber is worried that Jaedyn won't receive a proper education this fall either. No matter what happens this fall, Amber said she can stay home with Jaedyn; others are not so fortunate.
"Who is going to quit to their jobs because they don't have anyone else to babysit their kids?" remarked Amber. "It doesn't make sense for them to be sent to daycare. They're in a situation now where one of them has to quit."
Amber questioned how remote instruction is any better than the alternative.
"What is the difference getting an education at school or sending them to daycare," questioned Amber. "They're still around a group of children -- the same they would be at school."
During the meeting, Amber urged the district to provide some form of in-person instruction. She said "remote learning was a disaster for us."
Amber also told FOX43 she enrolled her youngest daughter into private school. The Dallastown parent said she didn't want her daughter's first school year to be remote.
"Speaking on behalf of my wife and I, we believe the recommendation is knee-jerk," said Al Granholm, a parent. "The board needs to show courage and make that [in-person instruction] happen."
Not everyone was in favor of in-person instruction, though.
"I am speaking as a parent of four children, including one going into kindergarten this year. I am speaking as a member of the CTC committee and as a clergy person of this community and also as someone who has lost a family member from this virus," said Christopher Rodkey, who voiced his support of the recommendation made by Dr. Doll.
"I am actually reaching out to indicate support of Dr. Doll's proposal." Karina Rush, a parent said.
Rush said she asked the administration a number of questions, including, can staff ensure desks will be cleaned between student use? Can staff ensure desks will be socially distant? Can staff ensure the number of people in a classroom will be 25 or less?
Rush said the answer for each was 'no.'
During the hearing, Dr. Doll said he had supported in-person instruction. He said he takes "no pleasure in making the recommendation" to go fully remote.
"Should tonight's recommendation [to go remote] be defeated, Dallastown School District will be ready to open on the 8th of September," said Dr. Doll.
Dr. Doll provided background information on why he changed his view on reopening the district. He questioned if the district can comply with state mandates, not guidelines. Dr. Doll stated he wants to be proactive rather than reactive.
PREVIOUSLY:
The superintendent of the Dallastown Area School District in York County said Wednesday he is recommending that the district switch to a remote learning format and cancel the fall sports season.
Dr. Joshua Doll said in a letter to the Dallastown community that state COVID-19 guidelines and mandates are "no longer practicable for a district of 6,415 students," prompting his recommendation for the fall.
"I fully recognize the impacts of this polarizing topic," Doll said.
But, he said, in order for the district to "remain steadfast in our commitment to maximizing the safety of students, teachers, and staff, and to productively manage the delivery of education to our students in a consistent and cohesive approach, it is with a heavy heart that I will be making the following recommendation to our Board of School Directors:"
- To modify the DASD Reopening Health and Safety Plan in order to provide a fully virtual model for the delivery of education to our students for the first trimester (through December 4, 2020) of the 2020-21 school year.
- To modify the DASD Resocialization of Athletics and Student Activities Plan to cancel all fall athletic programs and in-person student activities.
Doll pointed to recent developments that have occurred since the school district presented its Reopening & Health Safety Plan in July.
- The rising risk of exposure for Dallastown students, staff and families to COVID-19.
- A recent directive from the Pennsylvania Department of Health that 105 Dallastown High School Band Camp students and eight band staff members be quarantined for 14 days as a result of close contact with a person deemed to be considered a probable case for COVID-19.
- The state's ever-changing guidelines and recommendations, which include an August 10 recommendation from the Department of Health stating Dallastown should switch to either a blended learning or full-remote learning model and an order issued Tuesday that all students and staff wear face coverings while in school, regardless of social distancing capabilities.
The latter order was deemed "detrimental to our previously offered model of brick-and-mortar instruction," Doll said.
Doll added that there have been ongoing updates in student rosters and teacher assignments based on the fluidity of COVID-19 impacts, and said there is an increasing number of staff in the school district who are "unable to or not planning to return to work, in addition to the limited availability of substitutes, which raises concern about the ability to properly staff instruction and auxiliary services."
Doll said he will present his recommendations at Thursday night's Board Meeting, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The meeting will be presented on Dallastown's Youtube channel, Doll said.
Those interested in attending the meeting virtually may do so via Zoom. Only the first 100 people who pre-register for the event will be admitted, Doll said.
Those who cannot access the Zoom webinar and wish to make a written comment may do so here, Doll said.