Coronavirus: School districts await guidance, Southern York closed on Friday

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Update at 9:30 p.m. Thursday: Southern York County Schools are closed on Friday, but the offices will be open, the district announced Thursday night.  

"This evening, we were made aware that a community member has been tested for a potential case of the coronavirus (COVID-19)," the district said in a statement. 

"While we do not have any confirmed cases in our district, we are closing schools out of an abundance of caution and to have additional dialogue with the Pennsylvania Department of Health."

The district will be collaborating with local and state officials on Friday and providing more information to parents, the district said.

It is a flexible instructional day for the district, the statement says.

Reported earlier:

From deep cleaning of the schools to prepping for closures, York County school districts say they are taking steps to help minimize the spread of the coronavirus.

Superintendents across the state will be on a conference call Friday with Pedro Rivera, the state secretary of education, South Eastern Supt. Nathan Van Deusen said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

"We hope to be given some clarity on how to proceed," he said. "We will keep you informed of our plans as a result of this meeting and as new information is revealed."

Gov. Tom Wolf ordered Thursday that schools in Montgomery County close, starting Friday, because that's where most of the state's coronavirus cases are located. Officials did not discuss guidance for other districts during a daily briefing in a news conference.

No one in central Pennsylvania has tested positive for the virus at this time.

No statewide decision regarding school districts has been announced, and districts are making decisions on a case-by-case basis, said Annette Stevenson, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

For example, Allentown School District closed on Thursday and Friday because a staff member is being tested for the coronavirus.

School districts are looking to the state Department of Education for more guidance, Stevenson said. Some would be able to offer online classes, but others wouldn't. Some districts have been approved to use flexible instructional days, commonly known as cyber snow days, but others have not.

"We hope to know more tomorrow (Friday)," Stevenson said.

Two neighboring states, Maryland and Ohio, have ordered the closure of all their public schools for a period of time to slow the spread of the virus. 

More:Coronavirus prompts cancellations, postponements in central Pa.

More:Here's why canceling events, social distancing is a good idea right now

More:Coronavirus updates: Pa. orders Montgomery County schools to close; state has 22 cases

Schools working with local officials

School districts have been working with the York County Office of Emergency Management, which has been encouraging them to have plans in place and resources ready for a pandemic response, county spokesman Mark Walters said.

Many districts have posted information on their websites about how they are preparing, such as creating a task force, disinfecting schools and buses and making plans in case they need to close.

The districts have been transparent in their preparedness and offering their communications for review by the county officials so "we know what's going on around the county," Walters said.

"They have all done a good job communicating through their websites the information needed to get to parents," he said.

School districts will work with the state departments of health and education to determine when a school should close, Walters said.

State Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York Township, said she will be on a separate call with Rivera to talk about issues, such as whether the five-day cap on flexible instructional days could be waived to allow additional time.

She also wants to discuss the continuum of education, which is important. Statewide testing occurs in the spring, which determines student placement in classes.

Daily briefings, deep cleanings and more

From field trips to classes to outside activities, school districts are discussing what to do. Meanwhile, schools are receiving an extra cleaning to deal with germs.

South Western Area School District has canceled or postponed a long list of events, such as field trips, the spring musical, and parent-teacher conferences. Athletic events at the school will be played without spectators, the district said in a statement.

Those restrictions could be removed around April 8, Supt. Jay Burkhart wrote. If the situation worsens, though, the district will take extra steps to protect the students, staff and community.

Central York School District is holding daily briefings with its administration to review the situation, the latest updates and guidance from state and local officials, spokeswoman Julie Romig said. The district also is reviewing upcoming events and activities.

The district is in the position to offer the Flexible Instructional Days, but "until we know more from state education officials on possibilities for duration and options, we cannot answer definitively on that topic," she said.

West York Area School District has created an internal committee to oversee prevention efforts, monitor the situation around the clock and coordinate communication with stakeholders, according to the district's website. Schools and buses are being sanitized.

"We have been in contact with York County representation from the PA Department of Health, and they do have a plan in place to notify and guide schools should we see local and/or District Presumptive Positive cases," the district said in a statement on Thursday.

"To that end, our plan is that if a presumptive positive case arises in York County, we will look at the individual case and assess the impact it may, or may not have, on the District as a whole. Any decision to alter schedules, cancel events, etc. will be made in collaboration with the PA Department of Health."

Northern York County Supt. Eric Eshbach wrote in a letter on Wednesday that the district is making plans in case it needs to cancel events or close schools to help minimize the spread of the virus.

"We have not made the decision to cancel field trips or events at this time, but we will continue to re-evaluate this situation on a daily basis and plan accordingly for the coming days and weeks," he wrote.