Fox Chapel Area students could start the new school year from home, learning online with instruction from district teachers.

Or, students could return to the six campuses and be mandated to wear masks in the classroom and socially distance from others in the buildings.

Officials this week announced several scenarios which are being weighed by the newly formed Return-to-School Coalition.

Superintendent Mary Catherine Reljac emailed families on Tuesday to say the district is planning both in-person and online options.

“We will continue to work on details for how our in-person instruction will take place, guided by feedback from our workgroup meetings,” Reljac wrote.

Surveys will be sent to families in the next week to gather further input.

The coalition includes parents, students, administrators, teachers, staff members and residents who will plan for varying degrees of reopening the district facilities.

The committee also will include experts from athletics, special education and technology, among other specialties.

The district did not provide information on how the members of the coalition were chosen.

Coalition members will meet throughout the summer to build scenarios and communicate priorities, said Bonnie Berzonski, district coordinator of communications.

How classrooms will reopen is still unclear, with coalition members considering structural changes such as alternate schedules.

“It’s important for parents to know that the planning process is focused on planning for adaptation and change, not perfection, because it is impossible to predict what exactly the coming months will look like for our schools,” Reljac said.

School officials will follow guidance from the CDC and Gov. Tom Wolf, along with reviewing covid-19 case numbers from the Allegheny County Department of Health.

“Much uncertainty remains,” Reljac said. “Please know that we are closely monitoring the most recent spike of covid-19 cases in Allegheny County.”

Parents should expect updates every two weeks, Reljac said.

Administrators are scheduled to submit a report for the school board to review at its August meeting. The board meets at 7 p.m. Aug. 10.

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