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This page offers all of Delaware Public Media's ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak and how it is affecting the First State. Check here regularly for the latest new and information.

Colonial School District changes course, goes fully virtual for start of school year

Colonial School District is the latest to announce it will start the school year remotely for all students. 

The district decided late last month to start its high school, William Penn, virtually, but allow families in its elementary and middle schools to choose between in-person and remote school. 

In a letter to families Thursday, Colonial Superintendent Jeffrey Menzer said the decision to delay the face-to-face option for the first six weeks came after “careful, thoughtful, and countless discussions.”

Menzer said staff have already rearranged classrooms for social distancing, and made plans to purchase masks for every student. But just this week the district realized it could not “ensure the safety of everyone” in time to start face-to-face instruction September 8th. 

The district is aiming for a safe return to in-person school on October 19th.

Several other districts, including Appoquinimink, Capital, Milford, Red Clay, and Smyrna have decided to start the year remotely for all students

 

Sophia Schmidt is a Delaware native. She comes to Delaware Public Media from NPR’s Weekend Edition in Washington, DC, where she produced arts, politics, science and culture interviews. She previously wrote about education and environment for The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, MA. She graduated from Williams College, where she studied environmental policy and biology, and covered environmental events and local renewable energy for the college paper.
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