Shaler Area SD changes back-to-school plan, students going online-only for first month

Shaler Township, Pa. — The Shaler Area School District reversed course and now is not giving parents an option for the first four weeks of school. All students will learn virtually until October 9.

Lacie Spagnolo,mom of two, is more comfortable with her kids learning at home at the start. But she reflects on the challenge initially presented to parents when students were sent home from school in March.

“Turning it into an environment where we have to do school, we have to finish our work, did we check all the boxes and then transition,” said Lacie. “It was very, very difficult. But then it got easier.”

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In a message to parents, the Shaler Area School District made the decision for kids to work from home saying it’s the “best option for staff to safely educate all 4,200 students, better assess remediation needs with all students on the same platform, and build and design a high-quality online program that can meet the needs of our students for the long-term.”

Students won’t be starting school until the day after Labor Day, which the district says will give teachers more time to train on virtual and hybrid models; it also gives them more time to get students the technology they need and do orientations.

Lacie’s son Jimmy is as friendly and social as they get. So you can understand when he tells his mom he’d rather be back at school.

“I just want to go see my friends,” said Jimmy.

But Lacie sees the bigger picture and thinks the time learning at home will build even more character in her son and daughter.

“They’re learning resilience, they’re learning how to adapt to change, they’re learning flexibility. They’re learning things that we couldn’t possibly teach them unless we had something to teach them with,” Lacie said.

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