#Coronavirus

We are now one week into the extended school closure period and have at minimum one more week. We will continue to monitor guidance from the Governor and PDE on any extension of the closure window or whether we will resume school on Monday, March 30.

We understand how disruptive this school closure has been to so many families––practicing social distancing, supporting the learning needs of your children and fulfilling your own work and home responsibilities. We look forward to returning to a normal routine as much as you do. In the meantime, if you should need any support from your school community, please reach out to your principal, and we will do our best to help.

Here are updates we can share with you at this time:

Extended Learning

During the closure, parents and learners have been accessing recommendations for extended learning posted on each teacher’s webpage (http://salisburysd.org). We encourage parents/guardians to support their children in continued learning this coming week.

Elementary Electronic Device Pick-up

THANK YOU to all the parents and caregivers that visited the elementary schools this week to pick up electronic devices for their children. Approximately 95% of our learners now have access to technology to help keep them connected during time away from school. 

Internet Access

During the extended school closure many internet providers are offering free or discounted service to support families that currently do not have internet. Presently, we are aware of two options for families available in our area. 

Service Electric is offering 90 days free service with no modem fee for new customers. Please call service electric at (800) 232-9100 for more information on this offer. 

everyoneon.org is partnered with PCsForPeople and does offer discounted service rates on hotspots for economically disadvantaged families. You can find out more about this offer by calling (651) 354-2552.

Board Meeting

As of now, the next Board meeting will take place immediately after the Curriculum & Technology Committee Meeting on Monday, March 30, 7:00 PM at Salisbury Middle School. Depending on an extension of the school closing, this meeting may be rescheduled or take a different format. If so, we will be sure to communicate this to parents and the community.

State Assessments

On Thursday, March 19, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) cancelled state assessments for this school year. This includes PSSA, PASA and Keystone testing. Read the press release. We do not have any additional information at this time.

AP Exams

Today, the College Board shared information about AP testing. You can view the information on their website. The College Board is providing free remote learning resources and investing in the development of a new at-home testing option. 

School Calendar

PDE has provided the following guidance to schools pertaining to the school calendar.

PDE will not penalize districts/schools that fail to meet the minimum 180-day/hours (990/900/450) requirements as a result of COVID-19 response efforts. PDE will provide a simplified form that districts/schools can use to report any shortfall in days or hours.

However, schools are strongly encouraged to plan possible adjustments to their calendars (e.g., use of snow days, Act 80 days, extension of school year, etc.) to provide as much instruction as possible during this unprecedented event. 

Once PDE develops additional guidance, schools falling short of the 180-day/instructional hour requirements will be required to report their total days and hours for the year on a simplified form; completed forms will be deemed approved.  

Once we receive more information about the length of the closure, the Board will review calendar adjustment recommendations from the Administration. Any changes in the calendar will be shared with families and the community.

Student Meals (Note: Available feeding sites have changed since earlier announcement,)

Similar to the annual Summer Meal Program, free Grab-and-Go meal service is available to any Salisbury students (K-12, regardless of free/reduced status) at select Allentown School District school sites. (Review sites and addresses.) Meal service will be available throughout the school closure period between the hours of 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

Students must be present at meal pick-up. One meal per student, per day. All grab-and-go bags will include one breakfast item, one lunch item, milk and a fruit or vegetable.Thank you to the Allentown School District (a NSLP open feeding site) for providing this opportunity to our community through the National School Lunch Program.

Thank you for your continued collaboration, cooperation and understanding as we work to make decisions in the best interest of the Salisbury community in an ever-evolving, complex situation. The Governor’s administration will continue to monitor COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, and next week will re-evaluate and decide whether another extended closure is necessary. We will continue to follow the guidance and directives provided by state and federal agencies around this novel situation. 

If you have additional questions, please email your child’s Principal.