Northwestern Lehigh School District Superintendent Jennifer Holman provided this updated letter to parents, guardians, and students June 22 on the reopening of schools for the 2020-21 school year:

“ ... Since my last message, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has provided us with guidance for reopening schools for the 2020-2021 school year.

One of the requirements is a health and safety plan must be developed and submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

“Although we do not yet have all of the details worked out, we do anticipate and are planning for a return to our school buildings in August with appropriate health and safety guidelines in place ...

“Our planning efforts are focused on the health and safety of our students and staff while recognizing the environment must be conducive to teaching and learning.

Within the plan, there will be a number of options for learning in the 2020-21 school year, including different instructional models and safety practices based on the phase color designated by the state.

“We believe strongly that parents need time to review our health and safety plan in order to make decisions that best meet the needs of their family.

“As integral participants in this plan, we will need your help and partnership.

“Your support and assistance will be critical to the ultimate success of the plan.

“For example, families will be asked to partner with us to screen your children for COVID-19 symptoms and not send them to school if they are ill.

“In addition, we will ask families if you are able to provide transportation to school.

“While transportation will be provided for the 2020-21 school year, it does serve as one of the greatest challenges because of the number of students we must transport, the geographical size of our district, and social distancing practices.

“If some families are planning to transport their children to and from school, it will help us to plan for bus transportation and the routes accordingly ...

“Although advice from health authorities continues to evolve and change on a nearly daily basis, we are working with a regional team to develop a plan that is best for our students at Northwestern Lehigh.

“There are still many details and logistics that need to be confirmed.

“ We anticipate our plan will be ready by the week of July 20. Our board of directors will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. July 22 to review and approve the plan for submission to PDE.

“Once approved, you will receive another message from me with details and we will send a questionnaire to parents in which we will ask you questions about which of the options work best for your student and family ...”