Lehighton Area School District will be moving to a virtual education platform Tuesday through Friday due to an increase of George’s Transportation bus drivers who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have to quarantine.

“After discussions with our transportation provider, we feel this is the safest option for all of our students and staff.,” Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said in a message to parents.

George’s was able to field enough drivers to cover routes on Monday.

“We were in contact with Leon (George) throughout the weekend trying to figure what options they have,” Cleaver said. “We tried to figure out some alternate routes and double runs, but our safest bet right now for the safety of our kids and staff and everyone involved, and just to be fair to everyone, is to go to a virtual platform for the remainder of the week and then they have some drivers will be coming back.”

While Lehighton has had in-person instruction longer than most area school districts throughout the pandemic, going to a full virtual platform around the holidays last year, Cleaver said, has prepared everyone for the remainder of this week.

“With our experiences from last year, parents are hopefully used to the online platform so we feel that we could make a smooth transition,” he added.

Cleaver said the district’s bus runs can require just over 20 drivers at one time.

“We really looked at it and this was the last thing we wanted to do, but you have to realize a lot of Leon’s substitutes are also his full-time employees who are being affected by this so he’s really being hit from all angles,” Cleaver said.

Any after school activities requiring transportation will still go on as Cleaver said there are currently enough drivers to cover those runs.