Will Covid-19 control next year?

Even as the Covid-19 pandemic seems to be winding down, Milton School District probably will have some mitigation strategies in place for next school year. 

“If this past year has taught me anything, it’s that we need to be prepared to adjust on the fly and be on for anything,” said High School Co-Principal Mr. Andrew Rantz. 

District Pandemic Coordinator Ms. Catherine Girton said the Attestation Agreement and spread rates impact the actions of school districts in our area. The Attestation Agreement was required by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) and contains requirements school districts must follow. She said to her knowledge there is no expiration date to the Attestation Agreement. 

 “Although I remain hopeful that mitigation strategies and vaccinations will be effective and herd immunity will be reached, I believe that there will still be some level mitigation strategies in place for the beginning of the school year,” said Ms. Girton. 

Ms. Girton said she believes that mask wearing will continue due to research showing the virus is spread through respiration droplets. She added that whether or not students and staff wear masks is based on the governor’s orders.  

Ms. Girton said staggered dismissal is another mitigation strategy that is directly related to social distancing recommendations.  

Ms. Girton said she believes that virtual and flex learning options will continue to be offered to students. 

 “The district is committed to ‘Your Education. Your choice.’ Caregivers will continue to make the decision if virtual learning is best for their child,” added Ms. Girton. 

 Ms. Girton said that the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the Pa. DOH provides public schools with a matrix that determines building closures based on the number of cases within a building. The matrix explains what schools should do based on if they are in a low, moderate or substantial community transmission rate.  The matrix also takes in to consideration the number of Covid-19 cases within a rolling 14-day period. She believes the matrix changing is inevitable as the virus changes.  

The district’s Health and Safety Plan (HSP) has been revised almost every month since being approved as the governor’s mandates and recommendations from the PDE and Pa. DOH change, said Ms. Girton. She added that any revisions are approved by the school board during the monthly meetings. 

Ms. Girton said that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Pa. DOH changed social distancing recommendations. According to the Pa. DOH, elementary school students should remain at least three–feet apart from each other. Middle and high school students should remain three–feet apart in counties with low and moderate community transmission. In counties with substantial community transmission students, should stay six-feet apart. Ms. Girton added that the changes will not be included in the HSP because the counties in Milton are still in substantial, and students have the ability to social distance six–feet in the elementary classrooms. 

Vaccination rates also impact decision-making for the HSP, said Ms. Girton. She added that the high number of vaccinated employees, the revision of CDC guidance related to the spread of the virus through airborne droplets and changes in the disinfecting and cleaning recommendation all contributed to the change to five days a week of in-person instruction.