Schools around the area are actively forming plans for reopening in the fall and the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 has formed a task force to help.

“The task force will work throughout the month of June to be best prepared to offer a myriad of educational options for all our students,” said Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 Executive Director, Dr. Elaine Eib. “Our districts will conduct online surveys of families as part of this process. We recognize that we need their input as each school district’s plan for opening schools for the 20/21 academic year is developed.”

The task force is made up of 14 school districts, two career and technical institutes, and the community college of Lehigh and Carbon counties.

Palmerton Area School District, along with many others in the region, sent parents and guardians a survey with questions relating to safety precautions, social distancing on buses, a potential hybrid between online learning and in-classroom instruction, technology, etc.

“We recognize that there is a need for a plan for providing a physical school environment with some social distancing restrictions, a blended learning model - students in a physical school structure with restrictions and participating in online learning, or full online learning,” Dr. Alan Lonoconus, interim Palmerton superintendent said. “At this point, we are only in the planning stages as we continue to review evolving medical advice and recommendations for social distancing. We can’t yet guarantee what our educational format will be, but we are seeking input from parents/guardians as we plan for the 2020-21 school year.”

Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Department of Education said elementary and secondary schools in the state’s yellow and green phases may resume in-person instruction and activities beginning July 1. The phased approach first requires schools to develop health and safety plans based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Health.

PDE said the plans must include several elements including identifying a pandemic coordinator or team to lead response efforts, steps to protect high-risk children and staff who may be at higher risk, processes for monitoring students and staff for symptoms, guidelines for hygiene practices, processes for cleaning and disinfecting, guidelines for the use of face masks, protocols for social distancing, and procedures for restricting large gatherings.

Local boards of directors must approve the plans and post them on the school or district public website before a school reopens. The plans must also be submitted to PDE.

“Public safety and the safety of our students, employees and families will always be our priority,” Eib said. “We will continue to work with state and local health agencies in an effort to monitor changes in statewide guidance and to provide the best options for social distancing which will be detailed in each school district’s board-approved health and safety plan.”

Lehighton Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver, in a letter to parents, said the district is beginning to look at 2020-21 options.

“All our students, staff and families have risen to the challenge of learning in a new environment and have exceeded our expectations of completing and learning from interactive lessons and/or activities,” Cleaver said. “We will continue to keep parents and guardians informed as we progress through the planning process for reopening our schools this upcoming school year.”

PDE is expected to release additional guidance later this month outlining steps for school openings while addressing safe operations, teaching and learning, student wellness and equity.