Norwin to unveil school reopening plans

Norwin’s 5,300 students and their parents should learn next week the “specific dates and timeline” for when they can return to school five days a week, as well as the option of going fully online.

Superintendent Jeff Taylor said he intends to reveal in an email on Oct. 7 what must occur for the district to move from its hybrid educational model — two days in class and three days online — to five days a week in school. Students would have the option of receiving their education through the Norwin Online Academy, taught by Norwin teachers five days a week.

Taylor declined to comment this week on what hurdles remain before the district can fully reopen, but said in a Sept. 25 email to students and their families that the administration has overcome “a number of hurdles.” The district will have to acquire external resources to overcome some barriers and others may involve procedural changes to ensure student safety, Taylor said.

Taylor did explain at the Sept. 21 board meeting that the district does not have the ability to provide live face-to-face education over the internet because of technological issues, including bandwidth and fiberoptics.

With Westmoreland County still remaining in the moderate range because of the rate of covid-19 infections over a two-week period, the state is recommending that schools implement a hybrid model of education. Norwin has tailored its education to two days a week in class, with students grouped together by the first letter of their last name, and all students going online on Wednesdays.

Before it can fully reopen, Taylor said the district must know the legal liabilities for the school district if it fully reopens when the mandate from the Department of Education is to use a hybrid model.

Brian Carlton, Norwin School Board president, declined to comment.

Norwin’s administration was criticized at a Sept. 21 school board meeting, held via teleconference, by several parents who complained the district had not presented a plan to fully reopen schools when other school districts in the region are.

When some residents suggested adding trailers for temporary space, Taylor said that is very expensive and it is difficult to find a level spot for the trailers.

Alex Detschelt, one of the parents who organized a protest against the hybrid model last month, complained about the district’s lack of a reopening matrix so that parents know what needs to be done to have students return to class.

Steve Reese of North Huntingdon, who said he was a teacher, said he was thrilled with the hybrid education model and did not understand why Norwin “is in a rush” to return to classes full time. Reese said it was impossible to practice social distancing at school.

Greater Latrobe students in grades seven through 12 were able to return to school five days a week, beginning Monday, with the option of also receiving instruction fully online.

At nearby Penn-Trafford, students are permitted to choose whether they want to attending classes in person or through the internet, a spokesperson said. They have the flexibility to go school day-by-day or online.

Hempfield Area instituted a plan in which kindergarten students attend school on a half-day model, students in first through fifth grade are in smaller classes to promote social distancing and students in sixth through 12th grades attend school every other day, with virtual instruction on the other days.