Good afternoon,
As shared earlier this week, the Spring-Ford Area School District is following the guidance and expectations established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Health as it pertains to COVID-19, or Coronavirus. Naturally, it is normal to be concerned when news agencies report on trending health-related events. I encourage you to refer to information from official public health agencies as trusted sources of information, including the CDC, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Department of Public Safety.
Our central administration team is meeting regularly and is actively working on plans should the district need to close for any period of time. Should there be a confirmed case of COVID-19 in our area, the district will consider a variety of options including, but not limited to:
- Closing for a short period to conduct a “deep cleaning” of our buildings and school buses. Please click here to read our Weekly Update, which details our daily school cleaning process.
- Closing for an extended period of time with suggested meaningful learning experiences provided by our Curriculum and Instruction Department.
We understand that any decision to open or close schools has a great effect on families. But as always, our top priority is the safety of our students.
As a reminder, Spring-Ford has three emergency days built into the end of the year in the event of school cancelations. In addition, if added days are needed, April 8 and April 9, 2020 could be converted into student/teacher days.
I would be remiss not to mention a declaration that was signed by Governor Wolf today. This declaration, known as an Emergency Disaster Declaration, will provide increased support to state agencies involved in the response to the virus. Simply put, disaster declarations are sought so federal financial assistance can be obtained for both individuals and public entities. I feel it is important for families to understand the reasoning behind Gov. Wolf’s decision, and to understand that we are not in a physical state of disaster or danger.
I encourage you to review the resources below, which can also be found on our website under the “For Parents” tab:
- How to talk to your child about COVID-19
- Gov. Wolf Signs COVID-19 Disaster Declaration to Provide Increased Support for State Response
- How to Stop the Spread of Germs
- COVID-19 Information from the Department of Health
I ask that you contact the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety if you have specific questions or concerns about the COVID-19 virus.
Thank you for your trust and support.
Thank you,
Dr. David Goodin
Spring-Ford Superintendent