Remote learning until Jan. 19 sparks debate
North Allegheny’s decision to go remote until mid-January has been praised by some parents — and slammed by some others.
Patrick O’Toole, acting superintendent, said the decision stemmed from the anticipation of students and their families traveling for Christmas. Resuming in-person school on Jan. 19 would basically force students to quarantine at home for two weeks.
“Our goal this year has been to maximize safe effective learning environments for our students,” he said. “That goal is not sustainable. Moving to remote learning will create consistency.”
He added that the district has had to “grudgingly accept the fact that we have very little control over what the pandemic brings.”
The district had students and staff in kindergarten through eighth grade attending school five days per week while the high schools were in a hybrid setting.
The move to remote took effect Monday for grades six through 12 and Wednesday for elementary students.
The board members who spoke at the Dec. 9 meeting backed the administration.
Marcie Crow, board vice president and a teacher, said she understands the frustration that parents and students are feeling with the back-andforth between in-person and remote.
“Although children are at a lower risk with COVID, the teachers in the building are often out for various reasons related to it,” she said. “When they don’t have teachers to teach them, it is kind of a moot point there.”
Scott Russell noted that the community is divided on the issue. “As you see the guidance from the health professionals, we try to make the best decisions we possibly can to balance the health of our students, staff and administrators,” he said. “People will cite death rates and say it is not too bad, but, if you have it, it ranges from asymptomatic to being flat on your back for three weeks.”
Parent Kim Stuart Disque praised the decision. “I hope you will continue to listen to the concerns of staff as they are your most valuable asset,” she said. “There is no award for being the last district open. All you are doing is putting students and staff at higher risks.”
Ms. Disque said that the school cafeterias “hold more diners in one room than any restaurant has at 25% capacity. How many times have you been in a restaurant where one table is shouting across the room to get the attention of a friend?”
Alison Edfors said her daughter, a junior, has been quarantined three times so far this year because of possible exposure to classmates.
Natalie Metropulos asked about the disciplinary policy for students who come to school after being tested but before they get the results, or for the small number of students who refuse to wear a mask.
“It is unacceptable for students to come to school, knowing they were exposed to COVID and been tested for it,” she said.
She also asked if the district was budgeting money to defend itself against COVID-19related lawsuits and asked that the district reallocate the money budgeted for streaming athletic events to shoring up technology support.
On the other side of the divide, parents who want their children in school full time pleaded with the board to reverse the decision to go to remote learning.
“Those who want remote can move to [the North Allegheny Cyber Academy],” said Kerri McCall. “Have you thought about what this is doing to our community? Parents who are health care workers are scrambling to find child care. … Study after study says that elementary students should be in school.”
Sean Nocera said students have “barely been in school” with the number of remote days, both full-time remote and hybrid, which involves three days of remote learning and two days of in-person learning. “A lot of us, we have jobs. We go to work every day during this so-called pandemic,” he said.
Jennifer Porco, a clinical psychologist, said she has seen “so much distress and fear in a lot of people” about the pandemic.
“I have tried really hard to keep my kids from being fearful and want them to have a normal childhood, and that includes going to school,” she said. “I really hope you’ll consider returning to school as soon as possible. I know [COVID-19] is increasing in the community, but it is not the case in our elementary schools.”
According to the district’s tracker, as of Dec. 11, there have been 63 cases in the two high schools, 26 in the three middle schools and 20 among seven elementary schools.