Dec. 7, 2020
Dear LMSD Families,
I know that many of you have questions about our schedule plans for the upcoming weeks. At this time, we plan to continue in-person instruction in our hybrid model through Dec. 22, 2020. Attendance and participation of students and staff support the continuation of this model and we know that in-person instruction is most beneficial to students. According to Montgomery County's latest numbers, LMSD has the lowest positivity rates of COVID-19 in the county. The metrics provided by the PolicyLab at CHOP also support this plan.
As I have mentioned, while continued in-person instruction is our goal, there may be circumstances under which individual schools, or the District as a whole, will have to return – possibly with very short notice – to a fully virtual model. This could be the result of case counts or due to operational challenges, such as a lack of available staff.
Looking ahead, all classes will be virtual on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, as well as the week after the Winter Break (Jan. 4-8, 2021). The exception will be special education students who have been identified by their IEP teams as requiring in-person instruction, who will be virtual on Dec. 23, but who will return to in-person instruction after Winter Break. Remaining fully virtual the week after the break will allow out-of-state travelers to quarantine for seven days prior to returning to our schools, as currently required by the Pa. Department of Health and recommended by the CDC.
UPDATED CALENDAR
Dec. 23, 2020 – All virtual/Asynchronous Instruction
Dec. 24, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021 – Winter Break/All Schools Closed
- Dec. 24-25, 2020 and Jan. 1, 2021 – All District Offices Closed
Jan. 4-8, 2021 – All virtual, except for identified special education students
Jan. 11, 2021 – Return to in-person hybrid model instruction
As a reminder, if anyone in your household has symptoms of COVID-19, has tested positive or has been exposed to the virus, please call the LMSD COVID-19 Healthline at 610-645-1973. In addition, please remain vigilant in following the public health protocols, including wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently and maintaining distance from anyone outside your household.
Sincerely,
Robert Copeland
Superintendent
