Lehighton Area School District is expanding a free breakfast and lunch program it is offering its students during the statewide school shutdown, which is now indefinite.

The district announced Tuesday it is adding four satellite locations for meal pickup, in addition the elementary center, which it has been using since starting the program on March 16.

The locations include Weissport Borough Park from 10:30 – 11 a.m., Parryville Fire Company from 11:15 – 11:45 a.m., Dinkey Memorial Church from 12:15 – 12:45 p.m. and Mahoning Academy from 1:15 – 1:45 p.m.

At each location parents/caregivers may drive through and pick up meals for their children. Lunch for the current day and breakfast for the following day will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.

Continuity of education

Lehighton, like many districts in the area, kicked off its continuity of education program Monday.

“Our teachers are working this week with the goal of becoming acquainted with an online learning environment for themselves and their students,” Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said. “Our staff is committed on being available for our students, but ask in return for patience and flexibility throughout this process.”

Teachers and/or district staff members have or will be reaching out to students this week.

“All students,” Cleaver said, “will be given ample time to work on assignments or activities, given all the other happenings that may be occurring at home.”

The continuity of education will be split between two main teaching methods, planed instruction and enrichment/review, he added.

Planned instruction is formal teaching and learning similar to that which occurs in a classroom setting.

Enrichment and review consists of informal activities that reinforce or extend students’ prior learning.

“Our plan will focus on three key areas for delivering our instruction to the students of Lehighton,” Cleaver said. “The delivery of the education will be reasonable, appropriate and delivered in a good faith effort. In addition, this educational delivery gives our teachers and staff the opportunity to teach with new and creative measures.”