The following parent letter was sent to all parents on Friday, March 13, 2020 via email.
We are updating you on recent developments pertaining to the COVID-19/Coronavirus and our state-wide response to this situation. As stated previously, there are NO known cases associated with our school district at this time.
In an effort to protect the health of students and staff, all Lancaster County public schools are closing for two weeks in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus. Manheim Township School District will be CLOSED the week of Tuesday, March 17-Friday, March 27 (we were already planning to be closed on Monday, March 16th due to a previously scheduled day off). This closure will also include the cancellation or postponement of all extracurricular activities, practices, rehearsals, competitions, and events effective Saturday, March 14th. At this time, classes are scheduled to resume on Monday, March 30, 2020. We will reevaluate the situation closer to that date and make a decision regarding whether or not to address plans for a longer period of time. This will be done in consultation with our IU colleagues (other local school districts), Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DoH), Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Pennsylvania Emergency Management Association (PEMA), and Lancaster County Emergency Management.
We are continuing to work through additional logistics of this week, such as possible student make-up days and staff expectations. We will provide those updates when the information is confirmed. These decisions will be made in collaboration with our neighboring school districts to allow students and families to follow the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Governor Wolf’s Administration to avoid large gatherings that facilitate the spread of illness.
As promised, we will continue to update you as we learn more information about the county-wide response to the COVID-19/Coronavirus. We continue to remain in daily contact with the PA DoH, CDC, and the PDE, and our district’s emergency preparedness team continues to meet on a daily basis to review information from trusted local and national health organizations. Our team is committed to providing our community with timely updates. As always, our priority is the health, safety, and well-being of our students and staff. Thank you for your cooperation and support as we navigate through this. Together we will work to ensure the health of our community and our students.