Dear BEA Community:
I wanted to give you an update on the total number of cases that we have had over the past two days. Yesterday, we had 4 students and 1 adult test positive for COVID 19 at the MS/HS. Today, we had 1 adult test positive at the MS/HS. All individuals who needed to quarantine have been notified. There have been no new cases at any of the elementary schools.
We will no longer be accepting parent notes for mask exemptions since we have been in school now for three days since it was announced parents could request an exemption based on medical and/or mental health reasons.
We have been notified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education that we must treat these medical exemptions using the same process we use for students who qualify for 504 plans. I am working on getting clarification on how or if that will impact those that wrote notes for medical exemptions to wearing masks/face shields. As soon as I receive that information, I will inform parents.
I want to close by saying that I understand how frustrating it is to get a call that your child was a close contact and must quarantine. However, there are several parents who were verbally abusive to members of the high school staff. This is not acceptable.
The 20th anniversary of 9/11 will be happening on Saturday. I cannot believe it has been twenty years. My parents always talked about how they remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when President Kennedy was shot. I did not fully grasp that until I experienced 9/11. I say this because out of the horrible tragedy of that day, I remember how as a country we united and truly supported each other. I only hope that at some point, we can experience that unity again.
Sincerely,
Scott V. Graham
Superintendent