Administrators want students back in April

School board will ponder hybrid reopening plan

Allentown School District administrators have recommended opening schools in April for in-person learning, using a hybrid model. But the school board has not voted on the possibility.

Administrators told school directors Thursday that they want to bring back teachers on April 6 to prepare to teach in person, using a hybrid model. Then, starting April 19, they would bring back elementary students. Middle and high school students would start back April 26. Everyone would have to wear masks in school.

“Mask wearing is required,” Deputy Superintendent Lucretia Brown said. For students who can’t comply, “the option is to return to remote learning.”

The school directors heard about the plans during a committee-as-a-whole meeting, but they took no action. The regular board meeting is March 25.

Allentown students have been learning on an entirely virtual basis since mid-March 2020, when Gov. Tom Wolf shut down schools as the coronavirus spread. While other districts gradually brought children back this school year, Allentown, the region’s largest and poorest district, remained all virtual.

Administrators outlined the preparation the district has undertaken to clean and disinfect the buildings and increase ventilation, as well as to purchase the needed personal protective equipment recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That includes masks, disposable gloves, hand soap and sanitizer, among other supplies and equipment.

Brown said the average class with the hybrid system would have 16 students per classroom. Meals would be provided to students who are in the hybrid system, as well as those learning completely remotely. Cafeterias would be set up so that students would enter through one entrance and exit out another. The schools would have signs encouraging social distancing.

A district survey with about 50% of families responding showed 5,637 students, about a third of ASD’s 16,500 students, would opt for a hybrid system with in-person learning in schools. The rest would remain completely virtual. ASD is still accepting responses from families.

Brandy Sawyer, director of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, said about 130 students with the Lehigh Career Technical Institute have expressed interest in going back in person, and LCTI has said it can accommodate that many students.

School Director Sara J. Brace expressed concern that some students and teachers might not wear masks correctly, endangering teachers and others at the schools.

Superintendent Thomas Parker said if a student refuses to wear a mask, their parents will be contacted.

“Students must wear their masks or they’re going to be directed to the virtual campus,” Parker said.

During public comment, Scott Glidden, an Allen High School special education teacher, said he’s worried some of his students will be unable or unwilling to keep their masks on.

School Director Cheryl Johnson-Watts thanked the administrators for their hard work to get schools ready and take the necessary steps to open schools safely.

“Thank you, a thousand times, again,” Johnson-Watts said.

School Director Lisa Conover agreed, saying the district had to make tough decisions, but that parents should rest assured, “we always put your kids first.”

Pennsylvania shut down schools in mid-March 2020 due to the spread of the coronavirus. Lacking the resources and technology to get online learning up immediately, Allentown used federal money to buy 5,000 laptops and looked to community partners to contribute more.

In July, Allentown became the first school district in the Lehigh Valley to decide to keep school online when it restarted in September, and it has remained in remote learning since then. Most Lehigh Valley schools are using hybrid learning models, where students are in school two or three days a week, and many are starting four- or fiveday classes, especially for the youngest students.

In January, Allentown announced a partnership with T-Mobile, enabling 2,025 households in the district to receive high-speed internet access with wireless hot spots and free unlimited data. The access plan, which is part of T-Mobile’s Project 10Million, is expected to be available to the district for five years.

During the pandemic, Allentown — like other area school districts — has lost students and the funding that follows each child. The district saw 630 students enroll in cybercharter schools this year, up from 496 last year. Allentown had budgeted $58 million for charter school tuition and that could rise to $67 million, according to a consultant.