CLEARFIELD – Last night, the Clearfield school board opted to continue following a hybrid learning model that’s a mix of face-to-face and remote learning due to COVID-19 concerns.
Currently, the district allows students to have face-to-face classroom time with teachers on alternating days with social distancing and face mask practices in place.
Students go to school on an A/B schedule depending on the first letter of their last name (A-L and M-z), according to previously-published GANT News reports.
On days students are not on-campus for in-person learning, they are required to complete school work remotely.
A week ago, Superintendent Terry Struble asked the board to consider a possible full return to face-to-face instruction with the first grading period coming to a close.
Last night, he said the county has since experienced “rather large data reports,” including new COVID cases within the district’s zip code and the district’s buildings.
On Oct. 24, it reported a contracted employee had tested positive for the virus. The individual was at the junior-senior high school for less than an hour on Oct. 22.
No one at the school has been identified as a “close contact,” and those individuals who had limited engagement have been notified.
On Oct. 25, the district reported a student tested positive for COVID-19 at the elementary school. The student has not been in school since Oct. 21.
The school has identified close contacts through the school and those individuals were notified. The state Department of Health contacts any identified close contacts directly.
As of Oct. 26, the county has had 451 total cases and seven deaths while 9,384 individuals have tested negative for the virus. Of those cases, 363 are confirmed and 88 are probable.
Struble opened board discussion by saying it could either bring students back full-time for face-to-face instruction, or keep its A/B schedule of alternating days.
Board President Larry Putt said as elected officials, board members have an obligation to ensure students receive the quality education they deserve.
“But we also have to think about our staff and students,” he said, “so I don’t think we should go back to face-to-face … there are too many unknowns to make a change right now.”
Board member Dr. Michael Spencer said he didn’t disagree with Putt but would like to see the administration tweak its plans for the days that students are scheduled for remote learning.
“Our students are suffering – academically – with this every other day approach,” he said. “I don’t know if there’s anything we can do … but like you, I want our kids, our staff to be safe.”
Board member Gail Ralston said though she worried about the large percentage of children missing two meals every other day, she felt the board needed the “grace” of another month.
She said Clearfield Area Elementary School is already at capacity when all students are in attendance, and it would be difficult to carve out more space to allow for social distancing.
“I’d really like to see our kids in school,” Ralston said, “because our teachers do the best job at educating them … but their safety and health have to be our primary goal.”
The board will reevaluate its learning model next month. It’s scheduled to have a committee meeting Nov. 16 and a voting board meeting Nov. 23; both meetings will begin at 6 p.m.