Northern Lehigh School District students in Peters and Slatington Elementary Schools can begin four days a week in-person instruction on March 15, while students in the middle school and high school can begin on March 22.

On the elementary level, students will no longer be eating breakfast, lunch or snacks in classrooms.

The number of students outside during recess will increase. Mask breaks and water breaks will occur outside of the classrooms, either in the hallways or outside.

Air quality

A bipolar ionization device has been installed in every HVAC unit in the district, through grants, with impact on the general budget.

“I’m happy to report that all of those units have been installed, which will go a long way in mitigating the spread of not only the COVID-19 virus, but really all viruses, bacteria, molds, things like that in our buildings,” Link said. “So huge improvement to our HVAC systems.”

Transportation

“Because of the return to the four-day in-person instructional model, for those families that have selected it, we are looking at now having one to two students per seat on the bus, although that can be decreased when families continue to transport their own children, or for our students that are able to drive themselves,” he said. “We will continue with the sanitation between runs and at the end of the day. Brandywine Transportation Company does this on a daily basis multiple times a day, and they are doing a great job ensuring that those vehicles are cleaned after each use.”

Students and the driver must continue to wear a mask.

Positive cases

Link said that as of Monday, Peters Elementary currently has one positive case, and the middle school has one positive case for students. As for quarantine, Peters has 10 students, Slatington has eight, the middle school two, and the high school seven.

One Peters employee is on quarantine. Slatington has one positive case and one on quarantine.

Link said the total case count is 64 total cases since the first case was reported on Oct. 28 for staff, and Nov. 8 for students.

He said there is an active 14-day rolling window at Peters, Slatington and the middle school, and added “so we will continue to monitor those buildings closely.”

Peters Elementary

Principal James Schnyderite said the response rate for Peters Elementary was 84%; 267 chose to return to school for four days of live instruction, or 86%; 40 students chose five-day, 13%; and two students, 1%, chose to remain in Bulldog Academy.

With regard to the instructional model, all students in kindergarten and first grade will remain with their current teachers. This includes virtual teachers.

In second grade, they are adding one teacher and reassigning students who are currently in the hybrid model of schooling into this class to lower class sizes. The second grade virtual classroom will remain unchanged.

Virtual teachers will continue to teach in the same way to students both in class and learning remotely.

Teachers who teach to students who are currently in the hybrid model will not livestream unless there is a student in their class in quarantine.

Maximum sizes in classrooms: second grade, 20, with at least 4 feet of spacing between students; first grade, 19, with at least 4 feet of spacing; and in kindergarten, 18, with at least 5 feet of spacing.

Slatington Elementary

Principal Scott Pyne said they had a 96% response rate, with 358 parents, or 81% for in-person four-day; 82, or 19%, for five-day; and four students, or 1%, for Bulldog Academy.

With regard to the instructional model for virtual, all students remaining virtual will maintain their teachers and schedule. Instruction will be delivered through existing media.

Maximum spacing: Third, fourth and sixth grade, 24, and at least 4 feet of spacing; and fifth-grade classrooms, 23, with at least 4 feet of spacing between students.

Middle school

Principal Jill Chamberlain said the response rate is 86%. Of those, 172 chose to return for four-day live instruction, or 80%; 38 students chose five-day fully remote, or 18%; and five students, or 3%, chose to remain in Bulldog Academy.

The instructional model will remain status quo.

Students will follow their regular schedule Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. For livestreaming, they will continue to follow the Wednesday abridged schedule.

Student desks/chairs will maintain 3 feet social distancing and cafeteria will maintain 6 feet, 73 in cafeteria.

High school

Principal Robert Vlasaty said 348 parents responded, or 72%, and of those, 245, or 70%, for in-person; 95, or 28%, for five-day, and 8, or 2%, for Bulldog Academy.

Vlasaty said the instructional model will remain status quo.

However, he said there is some procedural/staffing/communication adjustments.

He said there is a need for more building monitors to supervise the new lunch areas, and that 12 parents have indicated that they would volunteer.

There is 6 feet social distancing in at least 50 percent, and at least 3 feet in the remainder. Cafeteria (95) and main lobby lunch layout (45), grab and go beverage cooler.

There will be two students per table, and additional eating areas are being considered for lunches.

Vulnerable populations

Special Education Director Michelle Dotta said that throughout the pandemic, 64% favored four-day in person, 15% hybrid, and 21% five-day virtual.

Dotta said that with the expected transition, all hybrid students moved to in-person, except one who opted for virtual.

English Language Development

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tania Stoker discussed the English Language Development Program.

Stoker said that throughout the pandemic, 25% favored four-day in-person, 37.5% hybrid, and 37.5% five-day virtual.

With the expected transition, 67% are in favor of four-day in person, and 33% five-day virtual.