Greetings to our Jim Thorpe families!  The plans for the opening of the upcoming school year are listed below.  Please read the message in its entirety for important information regarding the opening of school.

The Jim Thorpe Area School District plans to reopen school with the intention of going to school at normal start times/end times and for (5) five full school days each week.  It is important to note that a plan is in place that adheres to the CDC and the PA Department of Health (DOH) guidelines for managing students and staff who report that they are COVID-19 positive and/or have been exposed.  As per the DOH, contact tracing will no longer be conducted at the schools. 

JTASD Health and Safety Plan (Updated January 2024): This plan has been approved by the JTASD Board of Education and by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. COVID-19 mitigation measures, such as mask wearing, cleaning, ventilation and physical distancing, are all addressed within the report.  Click on the blue link above for more information.

Mask wearing:  As per the State DOH, masks are no longer required to be worn on district transportation or within district buildings.  It is highly recommended that masks be worn by any adult or student who may have COVID 19 symptoms and/or were exposed to an individual with COVID 19.

Contact Tracing:  The State Department of Health no longer requires contact tracing to be conducted.  The need for contact tracing will be re-evaluated if the DOH changes its mandates and/or the District sees a substantial increase in COVID 19 cases.

Quarantine:  The State DOH no longer mandates a 5-day quarantine for individuals testing positive for COVID 19.  The Board of Education has approved our Health & Safety Plan that follows the DOH mandates, so quarantining for 5-days is no longer mandated.  However, It is highly recommended that you still stay home if you are diagnosed with COVID 19 or, at the bare minimum, that you wear a mask for 10 days while inside the building or on school transportation.

Prior to arrival at school:  We are asking for parents/families to continue to monitor students for COVID-19 symptoms and keep students at home if they are sick.

Bus transportation:  Continue to mitigate congregating at bus stops; Mask wearing is optional for all students and drivers on school buses; Buses are operating at full capacity; Students should be in assigned seats according to a seating chart determined by the bus driver; Siblings of family members will be seated together whenever possible.

Classrooms: Physical distancing is encouraged to the greatest extent possible. Hand sanitizer will be provided in the classroom as needed and frequent handwashing and proper hygiene will be taught and encouraged. Posters and messaging in regards to proper hygiene will be placed around the schools. 

School Schedule: Based on current conditions, the district is opening at full capacity on a normal operating schedule. The district will be operating under the revised 23-24 Health and Safety Plan that has been approved by the JTASD Board of Education.  

Student Schedules:  Students will move to all of the classrooms on their schedule, and class sizes will return to normal levels.

Student arrival:  Students are encouraged to wash their hands upon arrival. Arrival times:  HS 7:30 AM and PK/LB 8:30 AM

Hallways and Stairs:  One-way directional traffic will be used where appropriate and feasible to minimize cross traffic. Use of water bottles and touch-less water bottle dispensers will be allowed.

OLC Remote Learning Option: The district is partnering with eLearn21 to provide a remote learning option for students so that they may remain within the Olympian community. Details concerning this program can be found at the JTASD OLC site or by clicking on the blue link above.  Those students interested in this option can submit a request information form on the OLC website's main page or contact the school office. 

Transportation: Bus routes and schedules have been  developed, reviewed and modified to best meet the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety plan, with a normal operating bus capacity.  Please note that students no longer are required to wear a mask while riding on the school bus as per CDC guidelines, but any student may continue to wear a mask if he/she so chooses. Parents are still encouraged to drive their student(s) to school if they feel more comfortable doing so. For parent pick up of students from school at the K-8 schools, the district will be using a program called PickUp Patrol to ensure a safe and efficient process. 

School Cafeteria:  The district applied for and was accepted into the Community Eligibility Provision, so ALL students will receive a free breakfast and lunch regardless of family income. All families are still asked to complete the free and reduced eligibility form this year, so the district can still accurately track the economic status percentage that is used for State reporting and grant writing.  SchoolCafe will continue to be used as our school lunch payment system.  Parents are asked to sign up for an account, complete the free and reduced lunch eligibility application, and make deposits for their student’s lunch account. This can be done by clicking on the blue link above, or you can download the SchoolCafe App to complete these tasks.  All transactions for school purchases will be cashless, but checks, cash, and money orders will be accepted in a sealed envelope that is clearly labeled with your student’s name and handed to a Food Service team member at the breakfast station or school office.

Student Breakfast:  In the high school, this will remain a grab and go at the doors and be eaten in the classroom.  Students who attend Penn-Kidder or L.B. Morris will have the option to eat their breakfast in the cafeteria or do a grab and go.

Student Lunch:  Students will use the serving lines and eat in the cafeteria. Lunch will be provided free to all students with ala carte items available for separate purchase. Ala carte purchases will be allowed in a controlled manner. Transactions will be cashless, and ID's will be used to scan and identify students with lunch purchases.

Technology Distribution:  Insurance premiums are being reinstated for the use of the school’s technology.  Should there be an issue resulting in damage to the school issued equipment, the insurance deductible requirements will apply.   iPads may go home at any grade level whenever appropriate. 

Dress code for students:  Student dress is the same as the same as last school year with no uniforms.  Clothing must not be overtly tight, must not have holes or rips, and must not contain any inappropriate subject matter or sayings.  Clothing must be of modest cut and length.  See your student's school for a more detailed policy.

Dismissal: Pickup Patrol will be used to manage student dismissal and pickup traffic; Dismissal times: HS: 2:25 PM - LB/PK: 3:20 PM

Custodial:  Ventilation will be increased with outside air circulation to the greatest extent feasible. High traffic areas will be cleaned frequently. Enhanced cleaning measures will be taken when necessary. Regular cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting will be done in all areas. Hand sanitizer stations will be distributed throughout the schools.

Nurse and Trainer Areas:  Masks must be worn upon the nurses’ or trainers’ request. Students needing to be quarantined due to sickness will be isolated until they can be picked up.

Special Education:  Meetings will be held in-person and/or remotely with the use of Google Meet, PowerSchool Special Programs, and DocuSign platforms.

The list of items above is not an all inclusive list of items you may need to know, but it will help prepare our students and families for the beginning of the school year.  Should you have any questions regarding your student’s schedule, safety of the classroom or school, how the district will mitigate the risks of COVID-19 exposure, or anything not addressed above, please feel free to contact your student’s school office. We are looking forward to the beginning of a new year and continuing our efforts toward getting back to the business of education.  

Please stay safe and healthy. 

Sincerely,

Robert Presley

Superintendent

Jim Thorpe Area SD