It wasn’t an easy decision to bring all Easton Area School District children to school two days a week.
But the school board felt it was the decision that best balanced the need to keep children safe from COVID-19 and the need to provide them the best education.
The board approved the hybrid return-to-school plan at its meeting Tuesday. You can see the vote and the discussion on a YouTube video.
“This is probably the most contentious decision and debate we have ever had in education,” teachers union president Kevin Deely said prior to the vote. “I don’t relish the burden you might have this evening.”
In July the district administration unveiled a plan that would bring high school and middle school students back two days a week and elementary children back five days a week. But that plan was scrapped last week after Gov. Tom Wolf recommended hybrid return-to-school plans over five-day-a-week plans.
The administration surveyed the community and teachers. Most parents preferred full-time in-school classes and teachers preferred hybrid classes, although there was no clear favorite and a significant portion of both groups favored full-time online classes.
Teacher Tracie Stumpf said if she brings COVID-19 home it could put her mother in grave danger.
“I still feel very concerned and very frightened to return back to my job, the job that I love,” she said. But she’s willing to return because “my students need me.”
Student Vincent Camineci urged the district to take the COVID risks seriously.
Parent Laura Hayes said she contracted COVID-19 in March.
“It was a very scary experience. … To this day I’m having issues,” Hayes said. She’s sending her kids back to school despite her fears. One of her children is a special education student and she feels it’s best for that child to have as much in-person instruction as possible.
After the district pivoted to an all-hybrid program, the first day of school was pushed back a week to Sept. 8, according to Superintendent David Piperato. This will give teachers time to adjust to the new way of delivering education.
Most students will take part in the hybrid education, although some enrolled in the Easton Cyber Academy. That’s an all-online school offered by the district. Others will take advantage of a third option: all online classes taught by the regular district teachers.
Several board members thanked administrators and members of the pandemic committee that put together the educational plan.
“It took a lot of work and contemplation to be able to determine what’s the best fit for the Easton Area School District,” said school board President George Chando.
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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. If there’s anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
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