Norwin plans for full return to school on Nov. 4

After closing five of its seven schools Thursday because of an outbreak of covid-19 cases, Norwin officials on Friday said the district is “absolutely committed” to bringing back students for full in-class instruction beginning Nov. 4.

Superintendent Jeff Taylor said in a statement that “we have found some very creative solutions to overcome the overwhelming majority of our obstacles” that prevented the school district from offering in-person instruction five days a week from the beginning of the school year.

“We know that a traditional operational model is the most effective model for instructing students,” Taylor said.

But, Taylor said, if Norwin sees “widespread, substantial increases in covid-19 cases in our community, which would result in ongoing and multiple school closures,” the district will simply postpone the start date of full in-class instruction, in two-week intervals.”

Westmoreland County this week has seen a rise in covid-19 cases.

Since the beginning of the school year, Norwin has operated on a hybrid instruction model. Half the students get in-class instruction the first two days of the school week, and the other half get in-class instruction the final two days. On the days students are not in school, they receive online instruction. Everyone gets remote instruction on Wednesdays.

The district had closed the high school, middle school, intermediate school and Hahntown and Sunset Valley elementary schools on Thursday because of five more cases, but still intends to allow students and staff to return to the buildings beginning Oct. 13. Custodians are using electrostatic sprayers and hospital-grade disinfectant in all classrooms and common areas, Taylor said. The cleaning and disinfecting also continues at the two elementary buildings — Sheridan Terrace and Stewartsville.

For those families who do not want their children to return to class full-time, Taylor said the have the Norwin Online Academy as an option.

Families are asked to decide by Oct. 14 whether they want their child in school full-time or take online courses five days a week. Students in the hybrid model who want to transition to the Norwin Online Academy for the fully remote operation model, or want to go from the online academy to fully in class, must complete a “parent selection form” for the school district.