Board-Approved Health and Safety Plan
Return to Learn Archives
2020-2021
2021-2022
December 12, 2021
Dear Gettysburg Area School District Community:
As you may be aware, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has affirmed the Commonwealth Court’s decision vacating the “masking order” put in place by the Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health in early September. As the order is now “void,” effective Monday, December 13, 2021, the district will revert back to following our board-approved Health/Safety Plan. Thus, “masks or face coverings” are again recommended for non-vaccinated staff/students and are optional. This applies to all district facilities and all staff, students and visitors. This also applies to district transportation.
As a reminder, all communications and documents related to COVID-19 are archived on the district’s Return to Learn Page.
Thank you for your continued support. Your efforts are key to assisting us with keeping our schools open for daily instruction.
May your family have a fantastic holiday and a healthy New Year.
Regards,
Jason Perrin, D.Ed.
Superintendent
September 21, 2021
Dear Gettysburg Area School District Community:
This message is intended to provide a brief update on district procedures as we continue to navigate our current environment while providing daily in person instruction to our K-12 students.
As shared in my communication on September 8th, we continue to follow the order of the Secretary of Health. At this time, our expectation is that everyone is following this order or processed an exception available under section 3 of the order through their building principal.
As the period for processing exceptions has ended, buildings will approach compliance with the order similar to how we approached compliance during the 20-21 school year. Please assist us in this effort, so that we may continue to remain open for daily in-person instruction.
The district continues to report our positive Covid cases to the PA Department of Health (DOH) as required. We will also continue to notify parents of students who were possible “close contacts” through contact tracing to the degree feasible. As a reminder, close contacts are defined as anyone who is within 6ft (of an infected individual) for 15 minutes or more.
Individuals are not considered close contacts if both they and the infected individual are both masked.
This notification to parents will continue to be completed through our automated phone network with accompanying email. The updated template of the notification can be found at the bottom of this letter. This template will be used starting on Thursday, September 23rd. Please ensure your contact information is updated in Skyward. If questions arise, please continue to direct them to your school nurse.
As a reminder, all communications are archived on the district’s Return To Learn page. Along with these communications, you can access the GASD Covid Chart and a list of FAQs that are updated as information changes or becomes available.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and support of our schools.
Regards,
Jason Perrin, D.Ed.
September 8, 2021
This note is a follow up reminder of information shared in my communication on Friday, September 3rd. As shared previously, the PA Secretary of Health issued an order regarding mandatory masking in schools. Allowable exceptions to the order are outlined in Section 3.
During this first week of implementation, we have taken an educational approach to re-acclimation of our students to mandatory masking in our schools. This has mostly been done through reminders and support. Principals are also in the process of working with families on the process for exceptions outlined in Section 3 of the order.
Following this order will help further reduce the number of students that miss in-person learning and will assist us in maintaining “in-person instruction for all students on a daily basis”. As a reminder, our most significant mitigation strategy for all school buildings is for symptomatic or ill students to remain home. Your cooperation in keeping children home that are experiencing illness is greatly appreciated.
As we move into next week, the expectation for mask compliance will increase. Starting on Monday, September 13, we expect for students to be wearing a mask to school; or engaged in the exception process. To support this effort, we are requesting that all parents seeking an exception under Section 3 of the order, to please make that request by 3:30PM on Friday, September 10th. All exceptions are being processed at the building level, through the building principal(s). They will share procedures for those exceptions that they receive and are equipped to answer questions regarding this process.
Thank you for your continued patience and support as we continue to provide education in our current environment. Your efforts are key to assisting us in keeping our schools open for daily instruction.
Regards,
Jason Perrin, D.Ed.
Superintendent
2022-2023
August 18, 2022
Dear Gettysburg Area School District Community:
We hope your family had a fantastic summer and are excited to welcome everyone back as we embark on the 2022-2023 school year. As a reminder, the first day of school for students is scheduled for Monday, August 22, 2022.
Calendar Reminders:
Friday, September 2nd: Professional Development (No School for Students)
Monday, September 5th: Labor Day Holiday (No School for Students/Staff)
We hope all students are eager to return for instruction next week and are looking forward to the many opportunities available in our schools. For students that utilize district transportation, busing information can be found through Family Access in Skyward.
We were thankful to be open for in-person instruction every day last year and will be opening the '22-'23 school without any mandated restrictions. The district will continue an enhanced cleaning regimen and will continue to support effective hygiene practices in all of our buildings.
The district will no longer be contact tracing and will no longer provide quarantine recommendations related to Covid. We ask that you seek the advice of your healthcare professional related to illness. In general, if you are experiencing symptoms of illness, please remain at home.
Safety remains a priority, thus we will continue with our safety protocols in the coming year. As a reminder, our external building doors remain locked and our offices have a single point of entry. We appreciate your cooperation with our entry protocols for anyone visiting our buildings.
Updated information and communications are always archived on the district website.
Thank you for your continued trust and support as we prepare for the ‘22-’23 school year. See you all soon!
Best Regards,
Jason Perrin, D.Ed.
Superintendent