BWSD Community Update With Dr. Lutz

Press release from the Baldwin-Whitehall School District:

Oct. 9, 2020

Superintendent's Weekly Community Livestream Update (Video Below Transcript)

Discussion Outline

1. Pizza Crunchers Made Us Smile

Dr. Lutz shared an adorable note titled Pizza Crunchers shared with him by a parent of an elementary-age Harrison student expressing panic that he was marked as a packed lunch and learned that there were pizza crunchers on the menu for lunch. He texted his mother for emergency instructions to make it possible to change his lunch for the day – PLEASE HELP!!

In this age of rules and restrictions, struggles and sacrifices, it made our day to read this sweet story expressing joy and excitement, reminding us how much things like the lunch menu actually do matter and contribute to a better day.

2. Evaluating Community Cases

Dr. Lutz spoke today about the measures through which neighborhoods and municipalities are measuring coronavirus transmissions which include numbers of residents who have been tested for the virus, those who have reported positive cases and those who have died from the virus or complications related to it.

For the District, by municipality as of the week of October 8, 2020:

Baldwin Borough

3500 Tested

500 Positive Cases or 14% positive

Baldwin Township

229 Tested

18 Positive Cases or 8% positive

Whitehall Borough

2100 Tested

300 Positive Cases or 14%

Dr. Lutz further discussed surrounding and comparably sized neighborhoods throughout the region, such as Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park, Brentwood, West Jefferson Hills, Pleasant Hills and Shaler, which are ranging from a 4% to 10% rate of positive cases per those tested. While it's difficult to draw inferences about the the role of our schools in the data available, the only clear facts we can rely on are that the virus is here, we have to continue practicing mitigation efforts with serious dedication.

While the numbers in the community around the District remain higher than average, our vigilance in keeping our students and employees safe are working, but we are actively evaluating, and working to build on information and improve every single day.

Within the District, we are currently tracking 65 individuals – however, not all are positive cases. It is important to note that the number of transmissions occurring from within the school remains at zero.

3. Dr. Lutz in Quarantine

Dr. Lutz live streamed his community update today from his home office (the Pitt cave) and reports to be in self-quarantine for 14 days. His daughter Carly tested positive over the weekend, resulting in both Dr. and Mrs. Lutz getting tested. Mrs. Lutz has tested positive and Dr. Lutz tested negative for COVID-19 and remains in isolated quarantine until his family is cleared as testing negative for the virus.

Both Mrs. Lutz and Carly are experiencing and managing symptoms and Dr. Lutz shared that the realities of the virus can be extremely frightening. He expressed appreciation for the support and well wishes of many friends and colleagues and encourages all to remain vigilant about mitigating the spread of the virus.

4. Back to Better – Academic Updates

Dr. Lutz discussed the report to the School Board on October 7, 2020 during which Dr. Peretin reported to the Board on the progress of using Canvas as a learning management system – and referred to it aptly as a replacement to beloved, traditional education, not one that we would have chosen at this time, but rather a comprehensive and dedicated, intensive effort and investment in making the best of these unfortunate times.

He emphasized that there should be emotion in the education of our children. He is concerned about student and teacher burnout and acknowledges that the work is hard...new....frustrating and asserted that the entire District will to continue to examine strategies to get better as we examine community rates for the better or for worse and ensure that we are ready to meet the coming months with as much preparation as possible.

Dr. Lutz reported that the District is maintaining as much academic flexibility as possible while upholding standards of mitigation, reporting that shifting between hybrid and remote is fairly easy to do because there's a seat, there's a schedule for every student regardless of platform.

Where the District will continue to struggle when changes in hybrid/remote learning are requested is in transportation due to increased routes and multiple variables of adapting routes.

He asks all families to be aware that changes in transportation will not be in effect until you receive official notification from the Transportation Department, noting that if a change is made, you will be responsible for transportation until this notification occurs. Dr. Lutz also encourages use of the District's new My Stop App and to watch for Skylert notifications for any updates or route changes.

5. Showing Grace

Dr. Lutz reflected on a discussion begun at a School Board meeting on October 7, 2020, about a community approach to showing grace for one another at every level.

He expressed the importance of the District Administration's ability to work with confidence and without fear because of the grace the Board has shown to the administration and how he hopes this is reflected in their support of teachers, also encouraging grace, understanding and empathy between teachers and students and families.

While the District must strive for a balance between academic integrity and graceful leniency during these difficult times, we look to continually improve with empathy and understanding as we navigate these times together.

6. Student and Family Survey/Faculty Survey

Dr. Lutz reported that surveys are being designed at this time to create an opportunity for feedback from families and faculty to help ensure that future plans are made with accurate feedback and encourages all to participate.

7. Review of Attendance procedures

When a child is sick, if they are a hybrid learner, they are permitted to stay home without marked absence. If a child will be absent, it is required that parents email or call the teacher who tracks attendance BEFORE school day starts. For K-5, this is the homeroom teacher, for Grade 6, this is the Period 1 teacher, and for grades 7-12, it is the Period 2 teacher.

There must be some semblance of order, we can't have teachers chasing students to determine status of attendance and we are accountable to parents, attendance protocol requires us to report if a student is not in attendance.

8. Athletics Update

New guidance from the Office of PA Governor Wolf was issued last week and will be effective for BWSD as of Friday, October 9, 2020.

The new guidelines are based on every individual venue and assigning a percent capacity based on District and venue size. For Baldwin-Whitehall School District, our capacity limit is 20%.

For BHS gymnasium, this means a max capacity of 200, for BHS Stadium is means a max capacity of 1000.

We are currently working on assigning capacity to other venues within the District as we anticipate that these measures may remain in effect for winter sports and will continue to keep our community apprised.

We will continue to offer each student participant two free tickets per families to ensure parents are able to attend.

There will be no student section.

We are prioritizing visitors at this time over student attendance for a variety of reasons, perhaps most notably is that we want to foster respectful partnerships and reciprocity with other school districts. As example, we would hate to see parents drive all the way from Hempfield on Friday to Baldwin and not be able to get in due to an exceeded capacity and would hope for similar provisions for our parents attending away events.

The Highlander network still be live.

Concessions will be limited. We ask all attendees to adhere strictly to requirements for wearing masks at all times, and to avoid any congregation before and after games.

9. Food Service Update

Dr. Lutz reminds families to be aware of food services available at no cost and to refer to previous communications about details and current pick up locations and distribution times.

A recent survey was issued to give parents the opportunity to inform the District about preferences as we undertake planning for future alternative times and locations. We have received 518 responses so far and deadline to respond is Friday, October 9, 2020.

10. Positive Send Off

Dr. Lutz noted that during these times random acts of kindness make all the difference in our lives, noting the kindness of his neighbors and care packages and expressions of concern as his wife and daughter recover from Covid-19.

May we all be reminded that the little things mean a lot and to take opportunities when we can to make a small difference for someone else.

11. Parting Reminder

NEXT LIVESTREAM UPDATE: Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 9:05 a.m.

This press release was produced by the Baldwin-Whitehall School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.