All students should be able to return to class by end of school year

On Mar 13, 2021

The superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools said Friday that the district expects all students to return to class for in-person learning before the end of this school year. This is because of the rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines for teachers. PPS teachers and staff rolled up their sleeves on Friday. The district reports 1,419 educators will get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Sunday and more than 1,500 have received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Heinz Field clinic. The president of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers shared her reaction with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. “I mean it just shows everybody working together how things can be put together very quickly and run smoothly,” said Nina Esposito-Vigistis. Superintendent Dr. Anthony Hamlet said these vaccinations add another layer to mitigation strategies the district has in place before students start hybrid learning in April. “I have to tell you this is the end of a pretty fantastic week,” said Dr. Hamlet. Charles Linhart will return to the classroom later this month. The secondary social studies teacher got his first dose of Pfizer vaccine on Thursday night. “I felt like you’re a part of history and it’s something to talk about when we go back to the classroom,” he said. “It’s just great to be able to move on to the next step here with the next shot.”The district said the mayor’s office connected them with Giant Eagle, resulting in 1,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine for teachers. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto joined the superintendent via Zoom on Friday, saying he knows the decision to keep Pittsburgh students home for remote learning has caused a disparity. PPS has four priority groups for moving to a hybrid learning model. Groups 4 and 3 are set to return in April and groups 2 and 1 do not have dates scheduled yet. Superintendent Dr. Anthony Hamlet said they plan to announce those dates by the middle to end of next week.

PITTSBURGH —

The superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools said Friday that the district expects all students to return to class for in-person learning before the end of this school year.

This is because of the rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines for teachers.

PPS teachers and staff rolled up their sleeves on Friday.

The district reports 1,419 educators will get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Sunday and more than 1,500 have received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Heinz Field clinic. The president of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers shared her reaction with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.

“I mean it just shows everybody working together how things can be put together very quickly and run smoothly,” said Nina Esposito-Vigistis.

Superintendent Dr. Anthony Hamlet said these vaccinations add another layer to mitigation strategies the district has in place before students start hybrid learning in April.

“I have to tell you this is the end of a pretty fantastic week,” said Dr. Hamlet.

Charles Linhart will return to the classroom later this month. The secondary social studies teacher got his first dose of Pfizer vaccine on Thursday night.

“I felt like you’re a part of history and it’s something to talk about when we go back to the classroom,” he said. “It’s just great to be able to move on to the next step here with the next shot.”

The district said the mayor’s office connected them with Giant Eagle, resulting in 1,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine for teachers.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto joined the superintendent via Zoom on Friday, saying he knows the decision to keep Pittsburgh students home for remote learning has caused a disparity.

PPS has four priority groups for moving to a hybrid learning model.

Groups 4 and 3 are set to return in April and groups 2 and 1 do not have dates scheduled yet.

Superintendent Dr. Anthony Hamlet said they plan to announce those dates by the middle to end of next week.