The Tamaqua Area School District will be closed until at least July 1, other than to host its graduation on June 26. The Tamaqua School Board discussed the future reopening at its committee workshop meeting on Tuesday.

“Even though it’s not an official template from the state, there has been a template that has made its way around,” said Tamaqua Superintendent Ray Kinder. “Our hopes are that provided we are in green, which is a requirement provided that it’ll be after by July 1 - because all schools are essentially closed until July 1. If both those criteria are met and our plan is in place to create a healthy environment for the people, we can then start the process of opening up.

Kinder noted that the school’s facilities cannot be used for organized events (other than graduation) until July 1 at the earliest. However, it is possible for the track to be open in the near future for the community to utilize it for exercise. In regard to the facility’s reopening, the plan is to start small.

“We are going to start with our in-house activities first,” Kinder said. We’ll monitor the process to make sure it’s working the way we want it to work. Obviously, we have a lot more control when it’s in-house people using the facility opposed to outside organizations. Once we feel like we have that where it needs to be, we will continue on with allowing more and more things to occur provided that we are able to follow the protocols in place.”

Next school year reopening options

A few potential formats for the 2020-21 school year were discussed.

Kinder said one option is to return in full, and another is to have everyone stay home. A third is called scaffolding, which a number of districts are considering. Kinder elaborated on what the scaffolding concept consists of.

“Your elementary comes to school five days a week and is spread throughout all of the buildings and your secondary stays virtual during that time.”

Another one is called a blended version, which Kinder noted is everything from half of your kids come in the morning, and half in the afternoon - or having kids come to school on alternate days.

“This is all information that’s put out by the Department of Education, as far as requirements,” Kinder said. “They have that transportation is a major issue. Right now, there cannot be more than 12 students on a school bus.”

A large and complicated health and safety plan has been sent out to every school, Kinder said on Tuesday.

“You essentially have to address every situation if you are in red phase, green phase or yellow. … The health-related issues such as distancing, masks and shields,” Kinder said. “There is much discussion out there across educational circles, that you have a specific number of people in your district who will say if people aren’t wearing masks, I’m not coming. There’s also a significant portion of people that say if you’re going to make me wear a mask, I’m not coming. We have to look at all of those factors as we go forward.”

Graduation broadcast

According to the board, Tamaqua’s June 26 graduation will be broadcast live on Blue Ridge TV 13’s YouTube channel, and will be aired on its local station the next day.

Football field

Kinder said that any type of maintenance work on the field will likely be postponed until after football season.