From the Public School and Career & Technical School Communities of Susquehanna, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Wayne, and Pike Counties.

We want to thank you all for your patience, flexibility, and understanding during these uncertain times. We realize that you are anxious to get your children back to their typical routine and for everyone in our country to return to a sense of normalcy. We as educators and school leaders feel the same way. We especially want to encourage the Class of 2020 to remain positive and look to the future. COVID-19 should not take away from your accomplishments and future plans!

The Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit school districts; Abington Heights, Blue Ridge, Carbondale Area, Dunmore, Elk Lake, Forest City Regional, Lackawanna Trail, Lakeland, Mid Valley, Montrose Area, Mountain View, North Pocono, Old Forge, Riverside, Scranton, Susquehanna Community, Valley View, Wallenpaupack Area, Wayne Highlands, Western Wayne, NEIU and Career and Technology Centers continue to work together as we receive guidance from our state and federal leaders. We have rapidly put food programs in place to support our communities and we are all working with local food banks to help support our students and their families.As always, our primary goal is the health, safety and welfare of our children.Secondary to that, is the continuation of our students’ education.

This week all districts are continuing their work on their individual and unique “Continuity of Education” plans.The plans will be centered on recommended Pennsylvania Department of Education “Enrichment and Review” activities.The activities are not mandatory, will not be graded and are designed to help students maintain or extend current academic skills.Your individual district plans will be rolled out in the coming days.We believe these plans to be the most appropriate and reasonable way to engage with our students at this time.Please understand that, as public school entities, we are subject to many federal and state regulations that we all must take into account when devising these plans.These plans may change as we receive further guidance on implementation from our State and Federal leadership.

As with any good education plan, we will need your support at home, as we look at alternative ways of continuing your child’s education in these unprecedented times.We are committed to doing the very best we can for each one of our students and we look forward to the day when we can welcome all of our students and teachers back to our school buildings. Ensuring that we are a healthy community must remain our top priority until this threat has passed.