Pleasant Valley School District continued to weigh its decision Thursday night to stay with the hybrid learning model or go all online until some staff issues are resolved. A motion to have classes online only until Oct. 1 was defeated by a 6 to 3 vote.

Voting against the proposal were: Norman Burger, Teresa Greggo, Laura Jecker, Len Peeters, Donna Yozwiak, and Delbert Zacharias. Voting yes were Susan Kresge, Todd Kresge and Dan Wunder.

School board director Susan Kresge was the one who suggested that the district consider moving to full online education. After further discussion, she compromised and suggested they postpone in-person instruction until Oct. 1. This would allow for the district to secure the staff it needs to cover for those who may have to quarantine. School board director Dan Wunder agreed.

“We’re facing manpower issues,” he said. “Right now, we are trying to play catch-up and trying to do something in two weeks that I don’t think can be done or can be done well. That’s my concern.

We’re going to be bringing kids into an environment that’s not ready to receive them. We’re going to be bringing staff into an environment that’s not ready to receive them, and I have major concerns.”

Superintendent Lee Lesisko confirmed the problems with staffing. Thursday alone, five substitute teachers were on the list of those resigning. The list also included a school nurse, a substitute para-professional, a substitute food service employee, a substitute monitor, and a substitute custodian. Schools depend on substitutes to fill in for staff when they are sick, or in this case possibly in quarantine for 14 days due to exposure to COVID-19.

“Staffing for our buildings is clearly an issue as we reopen, and every effort will be made to place more substitutes in each building,” he said. “If a COVID case is confirmed – staff or student – we will share that information with district personnel and the community. Quarantine measures will go into effect, but only for those who had close contact with the infected person.”

School board President Donna Yozwiak said, “We have to have a goal, and I think the hybrid goal should be our initial one. And if we need to be flexible, as the reopening plan was designed to be, then we will be flexible.”

Lesisko said the district is confident that the hybrid model is the best plan for their schools, and as indicated in the district survey, the majority of the community prefers to have students in school.

The hybrid plan that calls for students with the last name beginning with A through K to attend class in person on Monday and Thursday, and those with last names beginning with L through Z to attend online. All students would be online on Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, it switches with those in the A to K group going online and those in the L to Z group going in person.

Keeping students safe

“We know there will be COVID issues forthcoming, but we will operate with a health and safety plan already in place. We will do everything possible to keep staff and students safe,” he said. “Monroe County has one of the lowest rates of COVID cases in the commonwealth as of today.”

Lesisko asked that parents check or have their children self-check for COVID symptoms prior to coming to school and to stay home if they feel sick. The school will not be doing routine temperature checks with students.

Yozwiak said she has been studying the issue of reopening schools and has hope. She’s impressed with how well the athletic teams have conducted practices and have remained COVID free, and she reiterated Lesisko’s comment about the low number of cases in Monroe County.

What parents want

In the public comment time, 33 parents raised their hand to speak. Twenty wanted to continue with school district’s hybrid model. Ten people wanted to wait to go back, and opted for the online learning at least until Oct. 1. Three people didn’t give an opinion, but instead asked questions.

They wanted to know about current enrollment numbers, and if class sizes were decreasing due to people choosing the Pleasant Valley Cyber Academy or other options. Lesisko said class sizes are expected to be between 10 to 13 students.

According to a comparison of the district’s enrollment reports for June, July and August, there is a decrease in the number of students who plan to be in the classroom this fall.

The enrollment report on June 2 showed that the district had 4,115 students expected in the district’s school buildings. Another 807 students were enrolled at MCTI, Pleasant Valley IU, Pleasant Valley Cyber Academy, out of district placements, private schools, home schools, or other cyber or charter schools. The total number of students living within the school district was 4,922 children.

That number dropped by 237 students in the July 1 report to a total of 4,685 – a loss of 237 students. The district’s classrooms lost 105 students, and the other modes of education lost 132 students.

The Aug. 4 report showed a gain of 29 students, of which 24 are going to Kindergarten.

The total number of students in the district’s August report is 4,714, with 3,846 students expected to be in the district’s classrooms.

Some of the other modes of education saw gains, while others saw losses.

MCTI dropped from 31 students in June to 27 students. Out of district placements dropped from 161 students to 81. Those going to private school dropped from 124 to 112. And students being homeschooled dropped from 69 to 60 children.

The gains were in cyber schools. The number of students enrolled in the Pleasant Valley Cyber Academy increased from 204 to 329 in August. Similarly, the number of students in other cyber/charter schools increased from 212 to 232 students.

Of the students going cyber, most are in grades 7 through 12. There are 74 seniors enrolled in PV cyber academy and another 29 enrolled in other cyber/charter schools.

For grades Kindergarten through 6, the average number of students in cyber academy is 11 per grade. It is also an average of 11 per grade from PVSD enrolled in other cyber/charter schools.