School District Of Philadelphia moves 57 schools to virtual learning
The school district of philadelphia will move 57 schools to virtual learning on Wednesday, May 20, because of continued high temperatures and concerns about inadequate cooling in some buildings. Deputy Superintendent of Operations Oz Hill said the district made the decision “out of an abundance of caution, and in order to ensure the safety of our entire school community.”
Oz Hill and 57 schools
The change also puts all early childhood centers at affected locations on virtual learning for the day. All in-person after-school activities and athletic programs scheduled for Wednesday are canceled at those schools.
Students were sent home with Chromebooks on Monday, May 18, to prepare for the switch. Families who need a device or repairs can visit the FitzPatrick Annex Building or Martin Luther King High School tech support centers, or call the district’s hotline.
District channels and support
The district said that “While the School District of Philadelphia acknowledges that in-person learning is the best option for students, the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families remains our top priority.” It said the Inclement Weather Protocol is guiding its response to the ongoing heat.
Families were also directed to Class Dojo, Google Classroom, or the Parent Portal to contact teachers with questions. The district recommended phila.gov for food or meal distribution sites and the Philly Hopeline at 1-833-PHL-HOPE for free counseling services.
Return to in-person learning
The district said it is monitoring weather conditions and will update families when a return to in-person learning is possible. It added, “We will communicate through our standard channels once we’ve determined that date for our return to in-person learning.”
Central Bucks School District also sent an email about early dismissals on Wednesday, May 20, for students at eight elementary schools, and said no lunch would be served at those schools while bus transportation would still be provided.
